5 Ways to Get Rid of Hickies Instantly

Despite often being seen as a symbol of passionate affection, hickeys can sometimes be an unwanted predicament. Even so, many seek ways to quickly minimize their appearance and you may be wondering how to get rid of a hickey. Dr. Rachel Nazarian of Schweiger Dermatology Group posits that "while immediate disappearance is impossible due to the nature of hickeys being a type of blood clot under the skin surface," there are certain methods that may speed up healing or reduce visibility. In this article, we will delve into five proven strategies you can adopt to address these pesky love bites instantaneously while maintaining credibility with scientifically backed information.

What is a Hickey?

A hickey, also known as a love bite or kiss mark, is essentially a small bruise caused by suction from intense kissing or biting, which ruptures tiny blood vessels beneath the skin. When these blood capillaries burst due to the pressure applied on them in an area of your body where the skin is soft and delicate, like the neck or inner arm, then it results in what we commonly refer to as hickeys.

Hickeys are usually red at first; they turn darker, often purplish or brownish, as they heal over time. According to Dr. Rachel Nazarian with Schweiger Dermatology Group, without any treatment at all, most hickeys will begin to fade after 1-2 weeks, depending on their size and depth. Still, they can potentially last for up to a month if not managed judiciously.

How long it takes for a hickey to completely disappear may vary based upon individual health conditions, too, including how well one's body heals; people who have better overall circulation tend to recover sooner than others whose systems might take longer to process cellular damage and repair itself fully.

What are the 5 ways to get rid of hickeys instantly?

Apply cold compresses

Applying cold compresses is one of the first and most effective methods to minimize a hickey. The physical principle here relates to thermotherapy, where changing temperature conditions aid in the body's healing process; in this case, the cold compress may help reduce swelling and constrict ruptured blood vessels.

Utilize an ice pack or any frozen item wrapped well within a cloth (to prevent direct contact from causing tissue damage) for the cold compress. Apply it gently over your hickey for approximately 15-20 minutes while intermittently removing it every few minutes to avoid frostbite. 

Dr. Michelle Rodrigues, a dermatologist at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, explains that "cold compress help slow down circulation, thus reducing internal bleeding." Repeat the procedure several times throughout the day during the initial 24 hours since receiving hickeys because that's when you can maximize influence their severity before they fully turn into darker hues.

Apply warm compression

After the first 48 hours of receiving a hickey, you may want to switch from cold compresses to warm compress. Why? At this point, your body has stopped internal bleeding caused by ruptured blood capillaries and needs help in reabsorbing the leaked blood back into surrounding tissues.

Here's how you apply it:

• Soak a clean towel or cloth in warm water (the temperature should be comfortable on the skin).

• Wring out excess liquid.

• Place gently over the bruised area for about 10-15 minutes.

You can repeat this process three times per day until your marks fade away.

As explained by Dr. Faisal Tawwab, MD, with Multicare Physicians – Lake Mary Family Practice, "warmth helps dilate vessels which improves fresh oxygenated-blood circulation aiding faster recovery" as well as circulating nutrient-rich metabolic waste products away fixing damages quicker than if left untreated altogether.

Hence proving its efficacy in healing hickeys, particularly those matured more than a couple of days old and requiring increased care and attention compared to the initial stages and post-damage phase when symptoms haven't fully onset yet, thereby making them an essential part of any comprehensive strategy aimed at getting rid of these skin lesions promptly and effectively without causing additional harm or discomfort during the treatment application period.

Massage the area

Massaging the hickey area can also be beneficial in minimizing its appearance and speeding up the healing process. Massages are known for promoting blood circulation, therefore helping your body clear up the pooled blood caused by a love bite.

Here's how to do it: Start by applying slight pressure over your hickey with two fingers and rub them around in circular motions - just like you would while applying a lotion or cream. Perform this activity continuously for 10 minutes, multiple times each day, until it fades completely away.

Do note, avoid rubbing too harshly as that could worsen bruises instead, so always keep a gentle touch balance between efficiency and safety, maintaining skin health above everything else throughout the procedure time period and managing hickeys efficiently without harming yourself during the process.

Apply banana peel

Banana peels are another potential home remedy for speeding up the healing process of hickeys. The inside of a banana peel acts as a cooling treatment, which could help shrink blood vessels and reduce the appearance of the hickey.

To apply this method, you will need to take an ordinary ripe banana - cut out a small piece - just enough to cover your love bite completely. Place it (the interior side) on your affected skin area and let it sit there for about 15-20 minutes before gently rinsing off with tepid water. It's recommended that you repeat this process two or three times daily until satisfactory results are achieved.

The tropical fruit is rich in vitamins such as Vitamin K, believed to aid swift recovery from bruises by way of helping the body reabsorb pooled blood, per Dr Aakriti Mehra, Dermatologist at Enhance Clinics Mumbai. 

However, conclusive scientific evidence supporting efficacy is still limited; hence, while applying it might not yield immediate visible improvements, it does provide a soothing effect, reducing irritation and potentially lessening the overall time frame that it normally takes if accompanied by other mentioned techniques.

Use topical creams

Topical creams are another effective way to speed up the healing process of hickeys. There's a myriad of over-the-counter options that can help reduce bruising; these generally contain ingredients such as Arnica, Vitamin K, or Bromelain.

According to Dr. Janelle Vega from Mayoral Dermatology Clinic in Miami, "creams with arnica promote blood flow and heal bruises faster while vitamin-K-based ones help the body reabsorb pooled blood," making them particularly suited for treating hickeys promptly.

Apply the cream gently on the affected area multiple times each day - usually, it helps fade away love bites within a few days, depending upon the severity, though remember that individual response rates might vary. Hence, patience and perseverance are key here until achieving the desired outcome eventually, thereby proving worth a shot given their easy applicability coupled with high success potential stemming from a unique combination of powerful nutrients and clinical efficacy corroborated by numerous satisfied users worldwide, too.

Additionally, some people recommend other remedies using aloe vera such as aloe vera gel and topical vitamin to get rid of a hickey to promote healing on the skin's surface.

Takeaways

While hickeys aren't harmful, they can be cosmetically inconvenient. The use of cold and warm compresses, massaging the area, and applying a banana peel or topical creams may expedite the healing process. Nonetheless, patience is crucial as these methods aid natural healing rather than providing an instant cure. It's all about managing this common issue efficiently without compromising skin health.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make Hickeys go away fast?

To make hickeys go away fast, you can apply cold compresses in the first 48 hours to reduce swelling and constrict blood vessels. After that period, switch to warm compresses, which improve fresh oxygenated blood circulation, aiding faster recovery. Massage the area gently with your fingers; use banana peels or creams containing arnica or vitamin K for additional healing benefits.

How do you hide a hickey in 5 minutes?

To hide a hickey in 5 minutes, you can use makeup. Use a corrector to neutralize the purple or brown tone, followed by applying concealer that matches your skin tone. Finish it with some translucent setting powder for long-lasting coverage.

Does ice stop hickeys?

Applying a cold compress or wrapped ice pack on the area shortly after receiving a hickey could minimize its size and severity by constricting blood vessels and reducing further bleeding into surrounding tissues.

How do you get rid of hickeys in minutes with a spoon?

To use a spoon to help get rid of hickeys, first chill the spoon in the freezer for about 10-15 minutes. Then, gently massage or rub the cold spoon over your hickey for several minutes. The cooling effect can help minimize swelling and speed up healing by constricting blood vessels.