A hickey is, which is also known as a love bite or kiss mark, is actually, a bruise, according to Sejal Shah, M.D., a New York City–based dermatologist, as told in SELF.
Like any bruise, hickies formed when your capillaries undergo some kind of trauma, which in this case, someone biting or kissing you. The capillaries break and release blood, that pools under your skin to create a bruise.
The size of your hickey may vary, depending on how many capillaries were affected, how much trauma your capillaries went through, and how long the blood pooled before clotting.
A hickey can last more for more than a week, but it will heal with time. Once healed, there is rarely any kind of mark or scar left behind.
5 Ways to Get Rid of a Hickey:
1. Cold Spoon
The cold spoon trick is most effective while the hickey is still new. “The cold will help minimize the blood that seeps out of the vessels into the skin,” according to Dr. Doris Day.
1. Put a spoon in your refrigerator for at least 8-10 minutes.
2. Lightly stroke the back of the cold spoon over the hickey.
Notes:
Do this a few times throughout the day, as this will encourage the swelling of your hickey to be minimize.
2. Conceal with Make-up
Love marks or hickey can be hidden using a make-up. If you have a party to attend, and have no time for compresses, you can use of a foundation or concealer.
The color of the concealer must be in lighter color than your skin tone. If you are going to use a darker color, then the concealer could be undoubtedly seen.
Ladies should not have problems in actually applying concealers on the love bite.
3. Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol works on a hickey, if it has only been around for a few hours. This is because rubbing alcohol has a soothing, cooling, and disinfectant properties that help to get rid of a hickey fast.
This is known as the fastest way to get rid of a hickey.
1. Apply rubbing alcohol to the affected area with the use of a cotton ball.
2. Rub the affected area gently for several minutes. This will help in minimizing any discomfort.
3. Rubbing alcohol can dry your skin, therefore, apply moisturizing lotion on the area after you are done.
4. Do this several times each day for 1-2 days.
4. Using a Toothbrush
A new toothbrush is preferred to be use for this method.
1. Brush the hickey and the area around by using a stiff-bristled toothbrush. Brushing the affected area can help in stimulating blood circulation.
2. While brushing, avoid pressing too hard because this might make the hickey much worse. 3. Wait for at least 15 minutes to see the result. The redness and swelling will spread, but it will become less obvious after 15 minutes.
4. Apply a cold compress to the area.
5. Repeat the procedure if necessary.
Notes:
Depending on the severity of your hickey, this particular method may work at the first attempt or cause the discoloration to spread a little.
5. Warm Compress
Heat is very beneficial for a hickey that is about 2-3 days old. Heat will help dilate the capillaries, and therefore, make way for fresh new blood to circulate and clean-up the mess.
1. Saturate a washcloth in hot water and wring out the excess water.
2. Hold the washcloth on your skin for 5 minutes at least 3x a day.
OR
1. Also, you can use a hair dryer to apply heat to the affected skin area.
2. Then gently massage using your fingers to improve circulation.
Notes:
A reusable heat patch that can be bought from the pharmacy will also work. Just use it as directed.
Source:
Self
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