If the mention of the term "hickey" brings a smile to your face, you're not alone. Most people associate those purple love bites with their teenage years when making out was exhilarating, forbidden, and lots of fun. While it's still a thrilling experience, we ought to exercise more self-restraint when it comes to leaving marks on someone else's body. If you happen to end up with an unsightly or awkward mark on your neck or any visible part of your body, you'd want to get rid of it as soon as possible. After all, you're a sophisticated woman. Here's how to quickly remove a hickey, possibly overnight or even sooner.

What Causes Hickeys?

The dark-colored mark left on your skin, typically pink or purple, is caused by excessive suction. Although a light nibble or pull is harmless, when the suction is too strong, it can rupture the tiny blood vessels beneath the skin's surface, causing small blood spots referred to as petechiae, as described by WebMD.

If left untreated, a hickey would eventually fade to yellow before vanishing entirely, much like bruises on other areas of the body. Nonetheless, most individuals would rather not allow them to heal naturally and instead opt to conceal or reduce their appearance as soon as possible.

Do Hickeys Hurt?

In general, having a hickey doesn't necessarily cause pain. However, if the area was sucked on too hard by your partner, it could be mildly tender for a day or two. There may also be some slight swelling in the area, but it's usually nothing to be concerned about.

If the hickey is causing significant tenderness and pain, applying an ice pack to the area for about 10-15 minutes during the first day could help alleviate swelling and discomfort. However, it's important to keep in mind that ice won't eliminate the hickey; it only helps manage the symptoms. Additionally, avoid leaving the ice pack on for too long as it may cause additional redness, which is something we all want to avoid.

If the pain is severe, taking a Tylenol could provide relief. However, in most instances, it shouldn't be necessary but is an alternative to consider.

How To Get Rid Of Hickeys Quickly

With A Coin

This technique involves pulling the skin around the hickey tight and using a coin, typically a penny, to scrape through the center of the love bite in outward motions. According to proponents of this method, it helps to "break up" the hickey and diminish its appearance by dispersing the broken blood vessels instead of having them concentrated in one spot.

The effectiveness of this method is uncertain. It's conceivable that exerting too much pressure may exacerbate the situation rather than ameliorating it. Therefore, try this remedy at your own risk.

With Rubbing Alcohol

Applying rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball and dabbing it over your hickey a few times a day can help alleviate and sterilize the affected area. As it turns out, this is indeed a beneficial practice.

Nevertheless, there is a caveat: this method is only effective if applied as soon as you detect a hickey. Consistently using this method can dry out your skin and potentially irritate the area, so exercise caution!

With A Whisk

Although it may be uncomfortable to think about, for those who are desperate to eliminate a hickey, it may be worthwhile to attempt "whisking" it away. This entails taking a whisk from your kitchen and treating the affected area, along with the skin covering it, as if it were a bowl of heavy cream.

The notion behind "whisking" your hickey is that by doing so, you will disperse the blood and make it less apparent. Numerous TikTok users vouch for this method, implying that there may be some validity to it.

With A Spoon

Is it genuinely possible to employ a spoon to eliminate a hickey? Well, the answer is both yes and no. This technique necessitates placing a metal spoon in either the fridge or freezer for a sufficient amount of time to make it quite cold. Once you've removed it, place the back of the spoon (i.e., not the side that holds your cereal) on your hickey and keep it there.

This technique is relatively effective because it is comparable to using an ice pack on the region. It can aid in reducing inflammation and making the affected area less sensitive.

With Toothpaste

When it comes to removing hickeys, some people resort to unconventional methods like using toothpaste. The process is simple: apply any mint-flavored toothpaste to the affected area to improve circulation and expedite healing. Peppermint oil is also a popular choice for the same purpose. However, the effectiveness of these methods is still up for debate.

While using toothpaste may not make your hickey worse, it may not be very effective either. In addition, toothpaste contains many ingredients that may not be suitable for your skin, so it is best to limit its use to once a day at most.

With chapstick

With A Banana Peel

It may sound strange, but rubbing the inside of a banana peel on your hickey is believed to be effective. The anti-inflammatory properties of the peel could help soothe the area. Give it a try and see if it works for you.

While rubbing a banana peel on your hickey might not be the most pleasant experience, it does have some benefits. The anti-inflammatory components in the peel can help soothe the area and reduce any redness or swelling. However, it's important to note that this remedy may not completely eliminate the hickey.

With Makeup

If other methods fail, makeup can help you conceal your hickey. Though it won't make it disappear, you can use your favorite concealer, foundation, and powder to make it less noticeable.

How To Avoid Getting A Hickey In The First Place

1. Ask your partner to go easy on the suction

It's worth taking note of this advice even if you're into rough sex. Communicate with your partner that you don't want any visible marks on your skin or guide them to places on your body that are not visible to others. This will ensure that any marks are kept between you and your partner only.

2. Don't allow your partner to focus too heavily on one particular area of your body

Recommend varying the activity. Ask your partner to kiss you all over your body without lingering in one spot for too long. This reduces the chances of getting a noticeable hickey, which is not a desirable look for an adult woman.