A hickey is caused by excessive sucking or
kissing. It is actually a bruise that is made on the skin by sucking it. A very
common part of foreplay and lovemaking, hickies are quite common especially hickies
on the neck. A hickey is nothing but a hematoma wherein there is a blood clot
as a result of breakage of blood vessels. The capillaries beneath the surface
of the skin burst and then bleed in the areas around the skin. The blood then
clots. This then turns red. If the hickey is not just a mild one, then it can
even turn purple.
Symptoms of
Hickey:
Symptoms of any disease or medical condition
makes it easy for people to understand them in a better way. Likewise, hickeys
or love bites have some symptoms which can make you recognize if the bruise is
due to hickey or any other thing.
- The shape and size is relatively different than any other reason of
bruising. It is mostly the size of the area sucked.
- At times, when teeth are hooked on the skin sucked, they leave their
mark and makes it visible and less difficult for others to understand the
cause of it. This also helps as to the nature of bruising.
- On the funny side, hickeys are usually found and seen in odd places
where others might not get bruises. They are in the armpit, shoulder,
buttocks and neck. However, other reasons of bruises can be seen on cheeks
and less abnormal places.
- Another symptom which determines it of a hickey or a love bite is
the timings and discoloration. When a bruise or hickey is fresh it is
usually blackish purple. It means that the bite is freshly made. If the
color is reddish and not blackish it makes an effect of a day old.
However, if it is pale and dim in color the love bite or hickey was made
more than 3 days ago.
- Medically speaking, severe sucking or biting onto the skin may make
a person paralyze and can lead to very serious condition.
- Swelling, soreness, bumpy elevated skin can be taken as a symptom of
love bite – hickey.
- Blood congeals and can lead its way to hematoma.
Remedies
for Hickeys
1. Cold
Compressing
Cold
compressing is one of the effective and simple treatments against hickeys. Take
a spoon and refrigerate it in the freezer for about 30 minutes. Take out and
press it over the affected area. Pressing with cold spoon will regulate the
blood flow in the affected area, thereby immediately removing swelling and
clotting.
To get rid
of hickey on lips, you can put ice cubes.
2. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera
works wonder on almost all skin ailments, and hickey isn’t an exception.
Squeeze out some aloe Vera pulp and apply it over the affected area and let it
sit for at least 10 minutes. Aloe Vera gel will reduce the sensitivity of the
affected area and will also provide you a soothing sensation, helping you in
fast removal of hickey.
3. Warm Compressing
Besides cold
pressing, warm compressing is also an efficacious treatment against hickey.
This method is useful if your hickey has already lasted for 3-4 days. This is
used to lower the level of swelling and pain. Take a clean towel and dip it in
hot water till it completely soaks hot water. Now, gently press it over the
affected area, giving enough heat of the towel to hickey. Repeat the process
4-5 times for a relieving effect.
4. Finger Massage
Don’t use
this method if your hickey is fresh as it can be painful enough. When your
hickey gets a few days older, massage gently with your finger as this will
increase the blood circulation in the area, and will keep the pain and swelling
at bay. You can use almond oil, olive oil or cocoa butter for massaging.
5. Toothbrush Comb
You can also
get rid of hickey by using a toothbrush with soft bristles. Take a toothbrush
with soft bristles and rub it gently over the affected area. It is an effective
treatment for hickey.
6. Peppermint
Peppermint
is another effective way to treat the problem of hickey. Peppermint, being cold
in nature, gives you a chilling sensation. Apply a layer of peppermint oil or
toothpaste (as most toothpaste contains peppermint/mint as a major ingredient)
over the affected area. This will smoothen up the flow of blood in that area
and will remove the mark quickly and effectively.
7. Eye Drops
Pour eye
drops on hickey. After 1-2 minutes, rinse with cold water. This remedy will
reduce the redness of the skin, associated with hickey.
8. Over-the-counter Medications
When none of
the above home remedies works in your favor, try hitting for over-the- counter
medications. There are quite a few drugs and crèmes that are effective against
hickeys, like:
- Aspirin: They are effective
against hickey and its pain.
- Excedrin: This one is
formulated to thin the blood and smoothen it around the area, affected by
hickey.
- Vitamin K: This one is
used to prevent clotting in hickey area and keep the flow smooth. You can
also apply vitamin C and zinc creams for effective results.
9. Tea
Bags
Put a tea
bag in the boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Then, put it on the hickey until it
cools off. It is a good hickey removal remedy.
REMEMBER
To be
careful and monitor if the hickey is not just a bruise but more than that. If
the bruise bleeds or the color changes into deep purple, it is an indication of
danger. It is a must thing to seek doctor’s help in this regard. Another thing
is the bursting of any vein, embossed teeth marks on skin and hickeys followed
with temperature. When you have temperature and your sweet love bite bleeds, it
is an extremely risky situation.