A hickey is a love bite that is, in actuality, a bruise. A hickey is formed when skin is sucked or kissed too hard, that cause capillaries to break, which in turn makes blood pool. A love bite is usually reddish purple in color, and could last anywhere from a few days to more than a week. However, it will heal given enough time and don’t leave any type of scar or mark on the hickey site.
Suggested read: 6 things you did not know about love bites aka the hickey
Home remedies for hickeys
Sporting a hickey in public is embarrassing, and many people resort to covering it up with makeup or suitable clothes. The other option is to try some easy, simple yet effective natural home remedies for hickeys. Take a look:
1. Aloe vera
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Aloe vera is a natural moisturizer which helps reduce the sensitivity of the affected skin. Additionally, it possesses anti-inflammatory, soothing, and healing properties that help the burst subcutaneous capillaries to heal quickly.
Remedies
- Slice open an aloe vera leaf and squeeze out the fresh gel into a clean bowl. Apply this on the hickey and gently massage it into your skin. Repeat this thrice a day to get rid of the hickey.
- If you don’t have access to fresh aloe vera gel, use an aloe vera-based lotion or cream. Massage it into your skin thrice a day for a couple of days to get rid of the hickey.
2. Arnica
Arnica salve is known to help bring down swelling and soreness caused by a hickey. It helps repair burst blood vessels, thus helping get rid of the hickey.
Remedy
- Apply arnica salve on the hickey several times a day and gently massage with your fingertips.
3. Banana peel
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Banana peel is known to possess soothing and cooling properties that help get rid of your hickey quickly.
Remedy
- Cut a fresh banana peel to the size of your hickey. Flip the peel and place the inside of it on your hickey for about half an hour. Repeat this remedy thrice a day to help reduce the appearance of the hickey.
4. Black tea bag
Black tea contains tannins, which help treat a hickey effectively.
Remedy
- Dip a black tea bag in warm water and take it out once it’s fully wet. Let it cool down completely. Now place it on the hickey for about 5 minutes. Repeat this remedy several times a day till the hickey disappears.
5. Brushing
Brushing the hickey lightly helps improve the blood circulation in and around the love bite, thus helping get rid of it quickly.
Remedy
- Use a stiff-bristled toothbrush to brush the hickey to help stimulate the blood circulation. But avoid pressing it too hard as it could make it even worse. Wait for about 15 minutes to see improvement in the condition. Round it off with a cold compress to the hickey.
6. Cocoa butter
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Cocoa butter is another effective home remedy for getting rid of a hickey. It is an effective healing agent, which helps treat bruises like a hickey. Additionally, it’s also an excellent moisturizer, which helps promote the growth of new skin tissues.
Remedy
- Treat your hickey with a warm compress. Then, take off the heat and liberally apply some cocoa butter to the affected area. Use your fingertips to gently massage the area for a few minutes. It will help break up the blood clot, while also stimulating circulation. Repeat this remedy several times through the day to get rid of the hickey.
Tip: If you don’t have cocoa butter handy, olive oil or even almond oil work best.
Suggested read: All the different types of kisses and what they actually mean
7. Cold compress
A cold compress helps break down the blood clots that make up a hickey. It helps constrict ruptured capillaries, while also helping bring down the subcutaneous bleeding. A cold compress helps reduce the swelling around the hickey, while helping bring down the pain.
Remedies
- Place a spoon in the fridge for about 10 minutes. Take it out and wrap it in a clean cloth and gently rub it over the hickey till the spoon gets warm. Repeat this remedy several times a day till the hickey disappears.
- Wrap a few ice cubes in a paper towel and press it lightly on the hickey for about 15 minutes. Use this remedy several times a day to help get rid of the hickey.
8. Massage
A gently massage is also known to improve the blood circulation, which in turn helps get rid of the hickey.
Remedy
- Use your fingertips to gently massage the hickey, starting from the center of the bruise to the outer edges. Repeat this remedy at least twice a day for a few minutes.
9. Oranges
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Oranges are packed full of vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant that helps repair your skin. Additionally, vitamin C possesses healing properties that help quicken the healing process.
Remedies
- Drink freshly squeezed extra orange juice after getting a hickey to help boost the healing process.
- Taking vitamin C supplements are also known to be helpful in rebuilding the collagen in the skin.
10. Peppermint
Peppermint has a stimulant effect that can help improve blood circulation, thereby helping treat hickey successfully. It is also very useful in healing capillary vessels.
Remedies
- Dip a Q-tip in peppermint oil and dab it gently on the hickey. The initial tingling sensation will subside after a few minutes. Repeat this remedy just about twice a day, not more than that.
- Apply some peppermint-flavored toothpaste on the hickey, leaving it on for a few minutes. Let it stay for 15 minutes, before washing it off with a warm washcloth. Use this remedy not more than once a day. This remedy works best when used as soon as possible after getting a hickey.
11. Rubbing alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is a disinfectant, which also possesses soothing and cooling properties that help in getting rid of a hickey fairly quickly.
Remedy
- Use a clean cotton ball and apply some rubbing alcohol on the hickey. Rub gently on the love bite for a few minutes. repeat this remedy several times a day for a couple of days, till the hickey disappears. This remedy works best if only a few hours have passed since getting a hickey.
Tip: Rubbing alcohol tends to dry out your skin. So remember to apply some moisturizing lotion on the area once you’re done.
12. Vitamin K
Vitamin K is a vital nutrient that helps prevent blood clots, which makes it ideal in treating a hickey. It also helps your body to reabsorb pooled blood, while also helping speed up the healing process.
Remedies
- Smear a cream or lotion that is rich in vitamin K on the hickey at least thrice a day till the bruise disappears.
- Taking vitamin K supplements is also known to speed up the healing process.
- Consume foods rich in vitamin K, like spinach, broccoli, brown rice, fish oil, and soybean oil for a few days, and it should help get rid of the hickey.
13. Warm compress
Heat helps get rid of a hickey if it’s two or three days old. Not only will it help dilate the capillaries, it also makes way for fresh blood to circulate, thus help clean up the mess.
Remedies
- Wet a clean washcloth in hot water, wring out the excess water, and press it gently on the hickey for about 5 minutes. Repeat this remedy thrice a day for best results.
- Use a hair dryer to apply heat to the hickey, which you then massage using your fingertips gently, to improve blood circulation.
Suggested read: 11 sexy hotspots to kiss a woman to arouse her
Additional tips
- If hickey is severe and won’t go down with these home remedies for hickeys, then you might have to use makeup to conceal it if you’re stepping out for a meeting.
- Another easy way to hide a hickey is to wear a turtleneck sweater/top that covers up your neck and throat, the two most common areas where hickeys are typically found.
- If you have long hair, style it in such a way that your hickey is hidden behind your locks.
- A hickey is an injury and it needs time to heal. These home remedies discussed above should help.
- A hickey needs to be treated if it’s severe since being left untreated could cause an infection.
These are all the natural remedies you can use to get rid of a hickey effectively. For more updates on skin care, beauty secrets, and makeup tips, subscribe to our newsletter today!
Featured image source: Google, copyright-free image under Creative Commons License
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