After writing how to give a hickey?, how to get rid of a hickey fast?, and how to remove a hickey?, we are now writing how long do hickeys last and several best remedies to get rid of hickeys. A hickey is known as the kiss mark or a love bite. It is a skin mark usually on the neck or on the arm caused by aggressively kissing, biting or sucking of soft skin. Our body consists of several types of blood vessels that help transport blood in the body. These small blood vessels are known as capillaries. Due to sucking hard on the soft skin, these capillaries get rupture, damaging the blood tissues. So, the hickey is a bruise with broken blood tissues or vessels under the surface of the skin. These broken capillaries then appear red first, then due to lack of oxygen the red mark turns into a brown or darker purple color. While this bruise or kiss mark may not be hurtful, but can be humiliating or embarrassing in the outside world. Hickeys are not dangerous and painful.
How Long Do Hickeys Last?
A hickey can vary in sizes and if it is untreated then can last about 5 to 14 days. Hickeys depend on the size and the damage done to the blood vessels under the surface of the skin. Usually, when hickeys are left untreated, it lasts for a week or two, depending on the harshness of the hickey. The collected blood around the hickey slowly spreads into the other tissues, which helps dissolve the hickey in a few days. A hickey is just like other bruises, so no need to worry about as it takes a similar time to heal like any other bruise on the skin. If you have a hickey and want to get rid of hickeys fast and naturally, then read this article to know the best remedies. Most importantly, hickeys are not a serious or dangerous problem and do not leave any permanent scars or marks.
Hickeys can be enjoyable and loving, and are usually not painful for the receiver. However, they may often not be preferred. Hickeys can be awkward and inappropriate in public, family, or in the professional environment. Although, you can always hide or cover a hickey, but that might be uncomfortable, and can take a few days to get rid of hickeys. With the help of several home remedies you can easily get rid of a hickey fast.
Best Remedies to Treat Hickeys:
1.) Use The Ice Pack
This is one of the best treatments for hickey removal. The use of cold compress contracts the broken blood capillaries and lessens bleeding. To use this method, put several ice cubes in a towel or wash cloth and place it on the affected area for about 10 minutes. The use of ice releases pain caused by hickeys and prevents inflammation of the skin. Avoid direct application of ice on the skin to prevent frostbite and ice burn, which can damage your skin.
You can also use a metal spoon or a coin instead of ice cubes. Place the spoon or coin in a refrigerator for about 10 minutes. Take the spoon or coin out and wrap it in a cloth. Place it and rub it gently on the affected area. Cold compress treatment should be used as many times as possible during a day. The more you use it, the faster the hickey will be removed.
2.) Use The Toothbrush
A new toothbrush is ideal for this method. Brushing on the hickey is also an effective remedy for the removal of hickeys. Brush on the affected area and around it using a soft toothbrush or a comb. Brushing on the affected area helps stimulate blood circulation that further spreads the clotted blood vessels to the other tissues. Do not press hard while pressing because it can worsen your hickeys.
After trying this method, you will notice swelling and redness but that is common and fades away. Repeat the method if required. Depending on the harshness of your hickey, this method may work at the first try or just cause the mark to spread a little. It will help you get rid of a hickey fast.
3.) Perform Hot Compress
This is one of the excellent methods to treat stubborn hickies. Hot compresses is suggested for hickeys that are hard to deal with. To use this method, soak a washcloth in hot water. Squeeze the cloth out well and place it on the hickey for a few minutes. Repeat this process if needed.
The heat from the cloth aids to widen blood capillaries and make way for new and fresh blood to flow to the hickey and clear up the clutter. In place of a washcloth, you can use a recyclable heat patch. They are easy to use, inexpensive and stay hot for longer. You can buy one at your local drugstore. Otherwise, you can also use your hair dryer to heat the area while gently massaging with your fingers.
4.) Apply The Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe vera is one of the excellent home remedies to treat hickeys. It acts as a natural moisturizer with anti-inflammatory and calming properties. It reduces skin sensitivity in the affected area and curing the broken capillaries. Rub aloe vera gel on the hickeys and massage gently for two to three times during the day. If you do not have aloe vera, you can also use some aloe vera based cream or lotion. This is one of the best remedies to get rid of a hickey.
5.) Use The Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol also works great on the hickey. Alcohol consists of cooling, comforting and antiseptic properties that help to get rid of a hickey quickly. It is one of the fastest way to get rid of a hickey naturally. Apply alcohol to the hickey with the help of a cotton ball. Gently massage the area for a few minutes to help reduce any uneasiness. Once you are finished, make sure you apply a moisturizing lotion to avoid dehydration of the skin. Repeat this remedy for a few times a day to remove hickey fast and quickly.
6.) Take Help From Orange
Oranges are rich in Vitamin C, which is essential for the treatment of bruises. The vitamin also has lightening properties that can help remove hickeys as soon as possible. To try this method, drink fresh orange juice right after you got a hickey. It helps in the healing process. You can also make an orange pack and apply directly on the affected area. If planned well, the use of oranges can benefit you remove a hickey quickly and naturally.
7.) Do Some Gentle Massage
Massaging the hickey is one of the best ways to treat a hickey. It helps spread the coagulated blood and lessens its color. To use this remedy, you can use any type of essential oil. Massage on the affected area by gently massaging using your fingers in a circular motion and in one direction. After a few mins change the direction and again repeat the process to treat hickies naturally. After massaging the hickey, you may notice a few spots, but this is common. How successful massaging is on a hickey depends on its harshness.
8.) Apply The Peppermint
Peppermint has stimulating properties helps to encourage blood circulation. It also helps treat capillary vessels. Apply a little peppermint oil gently on the affected area. You may notice a burning sensation after application, but it will disappear after some time.
You can use peppermint-based toothpaste as a substitute to peppermint oil. To try this method, gently apply and rub some amount of toothpaste on the affected area and leave it for 15 mins. When the area stop stinging use a warm cloth to clean the toothpaste. The use of toothpaste shows the best results if it is done right after you got fresh hickey. Peppermint should not be used more than once daily because it can cause skin irritation. If peppermint is not available, you can use olive oil or almond oil.
9.) Make Use of Banana Peel
Banana is also a best treatment to remove hickeys. Peel have calming and freezing properties that will help diminish your hickey fast. To try this method, peel a fresh ripe banana. Rub the inner side of banana peel over the hickey and place it on the affected area for 10-15 mins. Do this process for 2-3 times a day to reduce the size of your hickey instantly. This is one of the great remedies to cure hickeys naturally.
10.) Scraping Will Help
This is one of the most painful methods for the removal of hickeys, but it can show great results if you select to use it. To use this method, stretch the affected skin around the hickey until it becomes flat. You can do this by stretching the skin away from the hickey in opposite directions. Once this is done, scrape the skin using the corners of a large coin. Your movement should be same like applying butter to bread, that is, it should spread outer.
This method needs you to scrape the skin as stiff as you can, but not so much as to breakdown the skin or hurt yourself. This method spreads the coagulated blood out of the surface skin. After scraping, your skin may be a little reddened and tender, but the inflammation fades a lot quicker in comparison of hickey. The scrapes are also much less visible than hickeys.
11.) Consume Vitamin K
The natural coagulation properties in vitamin K are used for treating bruises like hickeys. Vitamin K helps the body to absorb the clotted blood, thus removing hickey faster. Use any cream that contains vitamin K and apply it to the hickey for 2 to 3 times a day to remove a hickey. You can also consume vitamin K rich foods such as brown rice, soybean oil, broccoli for some days that helps to heal the hickey fast.
12.) Use Mint Toothpaste
Peppermint or mint oil based lotions and creams helps to increase the blood circulation. You can also use mint toothpaste to remove a hickey. You can use mint toothpaste, peppermint oil and peppermint lotion. Apply any of these products to your hickey and after some time use a warm towel to clean it. Repeat this method 2 or 3 times a day for removing hickey.
13.) Use Lipstick To Hide
This method is same as toothbrush method, this method helps to improve blood circulation and break up the blood. Take a pen cap, chap stick, lipstick cap or can use any small cylindrical object. Place the cap on the hickey. Press the cap hard into your skin, but don’t press it too hard as it may hurt you. Twist the cap while pressing it. Hold it for 10 to 20 seconds and then release. Repeat it many times for 10 to 15 minutes daily.
14.) Take Help From Cocoa Butter
Cocoa butter is the best healing agent for treating hickeys and other bruises. It is an excellent moisturizer that promotes the skin tissue. First, apply a warm compress on your hickey area. Then, apply cocoa butter on the affected skin area to increase its effectiveness. After applying the cocoa butter, massage the area for some time. Apply the cocoa butter 2 or 3 times a day.