A hickey is basically a bruise created by sucking or biting on the skin until the blood vessels under the skin burst. While these obvious “love bites” don't cause any harm, sometimes the scars are hard to hide and can be embarrassing for you. As with other bruises, a hickey can go away or heal in a week or two. However, if you treat the hickey quickly, the healing process can be faster. By knowing how to treat your hickey and hide it, you can feel more confident and look your best.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Treating a Hickey in the First 48 Hours
Step 1. Select the cold compress method you want to follow
You can use ice or a cold compress, but make sure you cover it with a towel. You can also put a metal spoon in the freezer, and place the back of the spoon directly against the hickey affected area.
Step 2. Apply a cold compress to the hickey
Cool temperatures can treat bruising by reducing swelling and slowing blood circulation. Apply cold compresses for 10 to 20 minutes several times a day.
- For best results, apply a cold compress in the first 24 to 48 hours after you get a hickey.
- After compressing the hickey for 10 to 20 minutes, remove the ice pack and let the hickey rest for 10 minutes before refrigerating it as necessary.
Step 3. Prevent future trauma
Some activities can cause swelling of the bruise (including a hickey) so that the healing process will take longer. In the first 48 hours after getting a hickey, avoid “traumatic” activities such as:
- Hot shower
- Soak in hot water
- Use of patch
- Consumption of alcoholic beverages
Part 2 of 3: Caring for a Hickey After 48 Hours
Step 1. Switch to warm compresses
Cold compresses are really effective in the first 48 hours only. After applying cold compresses to your hickey for 48 hours, you will need to switch to warm compresses for the next treatment.
- Ice (more precisely, cold temperatures) can heal ruptured blood vessels, but heat can increase blood flow to the area. Therefore, a warm compress helps the healing process and blood reabsorption.
- Use a hot water bottle or heating pad that can be heated in the microwave.
- Do not apply heat therapy or compresses for more than 20 minutes. You also can't do therapy or compresses if you have diabetes or poor blood circulation.
Step 2. Massage the affected part of the hickey
In addition to hot compresses, massage on the affected area can increase blood flow to the affected area. The most common ways to massage a hickey include rubbing the hickey with your hands or pressing it with things like:
- Brush your teeth with stiff bristles
- Close pen
- Cover the tube of lipstick or lip balm
Step 3. Treat the affected skin
Cold compresses, hot compresses, and massage of the skin can help heal existing hickeys. However, you still need to take care of your skin so the bruise or hickey can disappear faster. Actually, no skin treatment can give instant results, but skin treatments can speed up the healing process and remove hickey marks. Some of the commonly used skin care products include:
- Aloe vera gel
- Arnica ointment or gel
- Ointment to treat hemorrhoids (eg Preparation H)
- Vitamin C, E, and K supplements
- bilberry extract products
- Bromelain products
Part 3 of 3: Hiding a Betta
Step 1. Let your hair down
If you have long hair, you can let your hair fall and let it fall to cover a hickey on your neck or shoulders. However, not everyone has long enough hair to hide a hickey. Luckily, if you don't have long hair, there are still plenty of options for hiding a hickey.
Step 2. Apply makeup
While going through the healing process of your hickey, you can cover it so that the hickey isn't too obvious. Try using a concealer, foundation, and/or powder to cover up your hickey.
- Choose makeup products carefully to match the color of the product to your natural skin tone.
- If absolutely necessary, you can hide the hickey by applying toothpaste to the hickey. This method is only effective if you have a pale skin tone. In addition, the use of toothpaste is not as efficient as the use of makeup.
Step 3. Hide the hickey
There are many quick and easy ways to hide a hickey, depending on how you normally dress and the situation/time of the day. The key is that you need to hide your hickey in a way that won't attract anyone's attention. Try hiding your hickey by wearing:
- Plaster/bandage
- Turtleneck collar
- Collared shirt
- Shawl
- Hooded sweater (hoodie)
- A wide and thick necklace
