A hickey, also known as a “love bite” or “kiss mark,” is a temporary bruise that occurs when someone applies prolonged suction to the skin, often in an intimate setting. While hickeys are relatively harmless, they can be quite embarrassing, especially when you need to attend a social or professional event soon after getting one. Understanding how long hickeys last and how to manage them can help you cope with their appearance and ensure a faster healing process.
In this article, we’ll answer the burning question: “How long do hickeys last?” We’ll dive into the science behind hickeys, the stages of healing, and provide practical tips for reducing their visibility and speeding up the healing process. Whether you’re dealing with your own hickey or helping a friend, you’ll find everything you need to know to handle the situation with confidence.
What is a Hickey?
A hickey is a bruise caused by sucking or biting the skin, typically on the neck, shoulder, or chest. The suction causes small blood vessels under the skin to break, resulting in the pooling of blood. As the blood accumulates beneath the surface of the skin, it causes the distinctive red or purple mark that we recognize as a hickey. The intensity of the hickey depends on how hard the suction is applied and how much blood is trapped under the skin.
Hickeys are usually harmless and go away on their own, but their appearance can be alarming, especially if you need to attend an important event, like a job interview or a social gathering. So, let’s get into how long they last and what you can do about them.
How Long Do Hickeys Last?
The duration of a hickey depends on several factors, including its size, severity, and how well you take care of it. In general, most hickeys will last between 5 to 12 days. However, there are cases where a hickey may disappear in as little as 3 days or last up to two weeks, depending on your body’s healing process.
Factors that Influence How Long a Hickey Lasts
Several factors can influence how long a hickey lasts, including:
-
Size and Intensity: A larger and more intense hickey with more significant blood pooling will likely take longer to heal. Smaller, more superficial hickeys may heal faster.
-
Location: The area where the hickey is located can impact healing time. For example, hickeys on areas with thinner skin, like the neck, may take longer to heal than those on areas with thicker skin.
-
Blood Flow: Areas with higher blood circulation, such as the neck, may take longer to heal because more blood is directed to the area, and the body works harder to break down the pooled blood.
-
Individual Healing Rate: Everyone’s body heals at different rates. Factors like age, overall health, diet, and genetics can all affect how quickly a hickey fades.
-
Care and Treatment: The way you treat the hickey—whether you apply remedies such as cold or warm compresses, aloe vera, or vitamin K—can speed up healing time.
The Healing Process of a Hickey: A Step-by-Step Breakdown
When you get a hickey, the blood vessels under your skin are damaged, causing blood to pool and form a bruise. The process of healing a hickey goes through several stages:
Day 1-2: The Initial Stage
- Color: When the hickey first appears, it’s typically bright red or purple due to fresh blood pooling under the skin.
- Pain: The area may be sore or tender to the touch.
- Swelling: There may be slight swelling around the hickey as the blood vessels start to repair themselves.
Day 3-5: Bruise Darkens
- Color: Over the next few days, the bruise darkens, transitioning from purple to blue and then to green or yellow as the blood breaks down.
- Healing: Your body begins to reabsorb the trapped blood, which gradually reduces the size and intensity of the hickey.
- Pain: The pain and tenderness start to subside, but the mark is still visible.
Day 6-12: The Final Stages
- Color: The bruise continues to lighten, with the yellow or greenish color being the final sign of healing.
- Healing: By the 7-10 day mark, most hickeys will have faded significantly or disappeared entirely. However, it may still take up to two weeks for the hickey to fully vanish.
- No Pain: The area should no longer be tender, and the hickey will continue to fade until it’s no longer visible.
How to Speed Up the Healing Process
While there’s no way to make a hickey disappear instantly, there are several things you can do to speed up the healing process. Here are some effective remedies and techniques to help reduce the appearance of a hickey and promote faster healing:
1. Cold Compress (First 48 Hours)
Applying a cold compress to the hickey immediately after it occurs can reduce swelling and prevent the bruise from becoming more prominent. The cold helps constrict the blood vessels and limits the amount of blood that pools under the skin.
How to Use It:
- Wrap ice in a clean cloth or use a cold pack.
- Apply it to the hickey for 10-15 minutes at a time.
- Repeat the process several times a day for the first 24-48 hours after the hickey forms.
2. Warm Compress (After 48 Hours)
After the first two days, switch to a warm compress. Heat helps stimulate blood flow to the area, which can help the body break down and reabsorb the trapped blood more quickly.
How to Use It:
- Use a warm, damp cloth or heating pad.
- Apply it to the hickey for 10-15 minutes, several times a day.
- Avoid using heat too soon, as it can increase swelling during the first 48 hours.
3. Gentle Massage
Once the hickey has started to heal, gentle massaging can help promote blood circulation and help break up the pooled blood. This can speed up the healing process and make the bruise fade more quickly.
How to Do It:
- Use your fingers to gently massage the area around the hickey in small, circular motions.
- Don’t press too hard, as this can cause more bruising.
- Massage for a few minutes, up to 2-3 times a day.
4. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera has natural anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce swelling and redness. It’s a soothing remedy that can ease the discomfort associated with a hickey and promote skin healing.
How to Use It:
- Apply fresh aloe vera gel directly to the hickey.
- Leave it on for 20-30 minutes before washing it off.
- Repeat 2-3 times a day.
5. Vitamin K Cream
Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting and skin healing, and applying vitamin K cream can help your body absorb the trapped blood more quickly.
How to Use It:
- Apply a thin layer of vitamin K cream directly to the hickey.
- Massage it gently and leave it on for a few hours or overnight.
- Repeat the application once or twice daily.
6. Arnica Gel
Arnica is a herbal remedy often used to reduce bruising, swelling, and pain. It’s an excellent option for healing hickeys and other minor bruises.
How to Use It:
- Apply arnica gel or cream to the hickey and gently massage it in.
- Repeat the process 2-3 times a day for optimal results.
7. Conceal the Hickey with Makeup
If you need a quick fix, makeup can help cover up a hickey and allow you to go about your day without worrying about the visible mark.
How to Use It:
- Start with a color-correcting concealer to neutralize the purple or red tones of the hickey. Green concealer works well for red or purple marks.
- Apply a full-coverage foundation over the concealer to blend it into your skin.
- Set with a translucent powder to prevent the makeup from smudging.
8. Lemon Juice and Banana Peel (Natural Remedies)
Lemon juice contains vitamin C, which helps reduce bruising, while banana peels are rich in potassium, which can help the body heal bruises more quickly.
How to Use It:
- Apply fresh lemon juice to the hickey with a cotton ball. Leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing off.
- Place the inside of a banana peel against the hickey for 15-20 minutes, and repeat a few times a day.
9. Time and Patience
Sometimes, the best remedy for a hickey is simply giving it time to heal naturally. While you can use these treatments to speed up the process, it’s important to remember that hickeys will usually fade within 5-12 days, depending on the severity.
If you aren’t in a rush to get rid of the hickey, you can focus on keeping the area moisturized and avoiding further irritation. The body will naturally break down the pooled blood and reabsorb it.
Preventing Hickeys: Tips for the Future
While it’s impossible to completely avoid hickeys if you engage in certain activities, there are a few things you can do to minimize the chances of getting one in the future:
-
Communicate with Your Partner: If you don’t want a hickey, let your partner know. Ask them to avoid sucking or applying too much pressure to sensitive areas.
-
Avoid Excessive Pressure: If you’re the one giving the hickey, try to be mindful of how hard you suck. Lightly kissing or gentle nibbling may avoid creating a hickey.
-
Use Lip Balm: If you’re prone to hickeys, applying lip balm to the area first can reduce friction and suction during kissing.
Conclusion
In conclusion, hickeys typically last between 5 and 12 days, depending on their severity and location. While you can’t make a hickey disappear instantly, there are several techniques and home remedies that can speed up the healing process. From cold and warm compresses to vitamin K creams and gentle massage, these treatments can help reduce the appearance of a hickey and allow you to return to your daily routine with confidence.
If you find yourself with a hickey, remember that it’s only temporary. With time, patience, and a bit of TLC, the hickey will fade, and you’ll be back to normal in no time!
