Using the bristles of a toothbrush is another method to help break up the blood clots and spread the accumulated blood around in order to make it easier for your body to clear the hickey. The toothbrush method is conducted as follows:
- Taking your toothbrush, brush the bristles over the area of your hickey, gently applying pressure and working the toothbrush in a different direction so as to move the clotted blood around, spreading it to adjacent areas of tissue.
- Repeat this process for roughly five to ten minutes.
- This method works best when combined with the cold compress technique, therefore, once you have ‘brushed’ the area, apply a cold compress for ten minutes and repeat a few times throughout the day.
**My Med Memo – The results of this technique tend to vary based on the intensity and colour of the hickey, however, you should be able to notice a difference in colour after a few hours.
The cylindrical object method
This method is similar to the toothbrush technique in applying pressure to the bruised area to spread out the accumulation of blood in an attempt quicken the healing process as blood can be easily reabsorbed by the body. This technique uses cylindrical objects to disperse the accumulated blood and increase the area’s blood circulation. Use this method a few times a day starting 24 hours after receiving your hickey. The below describes how to use a cylindrical object for hickey:
- Find a pen cap, lipstick cap or any small cylindrical object
- Place this round object directly onto your hickey, pressing down onto the skin, making sure you are applying just the right amount of pressure so as to not aggravate the area but to press it down enough to disperse the blood
- When pressing down, twist the object so that your skin twists around it, getting at least half a twist out of the object
- Hold this position for about ten to twenty seconds and release
- Repeat this process for ten to fifteen minutes several times daily
The coin method for hickies
This method may cause slight pain, and it is vital that you ensure that this technique is conducted correctly so that it does not make your hickey worse. The coin method is as follows:
- Find any coin (it is advised that you disinfect this as it will be touching your skin)
- Using two fingers, pull the skin on either side of your hickey to stretch it out
- Now, making use of the edge of the coin, you will need to scrape the surface of the hickey, moving from the centre of the hickey outwards. This movement attempts to break up and move the blood around the hickey so as to allow for your body to easily absorb the blood clot back into the bloodstream (scrape the skin with just enough pressure that it doesn’t hurt you or aggravate the hickey and cause further bruising)
- Your skin is likely to be red from this scraping, this redness will subside in a few minutes
The toothpaste method to treat a hickey
Mint toothpaste or peppermint oil aid in increasing blood circulation. Peppermint oil is would be the best option as it has a higher peppermint concentration, but if you do not have access to this, mint toothpaste may work. The toothpaste method works as follows:
- Apply a layer of toothpaste or peppermint oil directly to your hickey, the area will start to tingle
- When the tingling stops, remove the excess oil or toothpaste with a clean wet cloth
**My Med Memo – Try not to repeat this process too much as the constant tingling can cause irritation to the site of the hickey. This method works well for increasing blood circulation and dispersing the blood clot.
When nothing else works - how to hide a hickey
Some hickeys are extremely stubborn and persistent and stick around for much longer than you may have anticipated. If you are running late for a meeting, have a class to get to or simply want to cover up your hickey from the risk of embarrassment, there are a couple of ways that you can hide your love bite. You may have already tried some of these classic hickey hiding techniques such as wearing a scarf, turtleneck, band-aid, collared shirt or even using your long hair (this is more for the ladies) to hide it, however, if you want to know how to properly conceal a hickey with makeup, then read on…
- Apply a green concealer to the hickey. The reason for using a green concealer here is because your hickey is red, green is the opposite colour to this (remember your colour wheels from art class?), therefore, using green will make the hickey less visible as it neutralises the prominence of the red.
- Now you will need to mix a yellow tinted concealer and your correct skin tone concealer until you get a colour that is closely matched to your own skin. Apply this mix to the outline of your hickey with a makeup brush.
- Finally, dab the area with a sponge or makeup brush to spread your concealer mix until you reach a naturally blended look, you can also add some foundation at this point for a little more cover-up. Be careful not to use too much makeup in an attempt to hide your hickey as this can rub off on your shirt and make it look more obvious that you are trying to cover something up.
How long will my hickey last?
One minute, your neck is clear after an intimate moment with your partner. The next, it’s covered with a big, round, purple mark. Hickeys form when the tiny blood vessels under your skin are broken, leaving a noticeable bruise.
Hickeys can last anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks. So if you’re trying to hide one, you may spend a long time in turtlenecks or touching up the area with concealer. But there are a few ways to speed up the healing process. Of course, nothing will make a hickey magically disappear in minutes, but these 10 techniques may help it clear up a few days faster.
A cold compress may help reduce the swelling of a brand new bruise. The cool temperature helps slow the flow of blood from the vessel into the skin. You could also use an ice pack, a cloth dampened with cold water, or even a chilled spoon. Whatever you use, apply the compress to the hickey for 10 minutes several times per day for the first 2 days.
Learn more: How to make your own cold compress »
After two days of using a cold compress, it’s time to apply some heat. A warm compress can increase your circulation in the bruised area. This may help the hickey fade sooner rather than later.
Starting on day three, apply a warm compress for 10 minutes several times per day.
Massages are known to relieve pain and stimulate blood flow. Gently massaging or rubbing your hickey for a few minutes per day may speed up fading. A light touch is key — applying too much pressure could actually make the bruise worse.
Peppermint essential oil can help stimulate blood flow to the area. This may help reduce the size and severity of your hickey.
Be sure to use essential oil, not the extract that’s used for cooking. And always use diluted essential oils. A general rule of thumb is to add about 12 drops of a carrier oil, like coconut or olive oil, to every 1 to 2 drops of essential oil.
You should also do a skin patch test first. Apply a small amount of diluted essential oil to the inside of your forearm. If you don’t experience any irritation within 24 hours, the oil should be safe to apply elsewhere.
Once you know it’s safe to use, massage a small amount of diluted peppermint essential oil onto the hickey. You can do this as often as you’d like.
Topical vitamin K has been shown to clear up bruises more quickly and speed up skin healing. This is because the vitamin plays a key role in your body’s blood-clotting process.
Apply a good amount of vitamin K cream to your hickey as needed to reduce the appearance of the bruise. You could also take vitamin K supplements or eat vitamin K-rich foods to further boost production. Try leafy greens or brown rice.
Check out: 11 outside-the-box ways to eat kale »
The inside of a banana peel is rich with vitamins and nutrients that can help reduce the appearance of a bruise. Rub the inside of a peel from a ripe banana on your hickey for up to 30 minutes or until the peel turns brown. Repeat this technique at least twice per day until your hickey has faded.
Vitamin C is essential to keeping your skin healthy and smooth. It has great antioxidant properties and may help boost your skin’s collagen production. In fact, vitamin C may even strengthen the skin tissue around your blood vessels, which could help heal your hickey.
Apply a vitamin C-enriched cream to the affected area daily. Eating more citrus and plant-based foods may also be beneficial.
Cocoa butter, a fat derived from cocoa beans, is a staple in many skin care regimens — and with good reason. Cocoa butter has been shown to smooth scars, stretch marks, wrinkles, and other skin marks. That’s because it’s rich in fatty acids and phytochemicals believed to help nourish skin, improve elasticity, and slow aging.
You can apply cocoa butter lotion to your hickey once or twice per day to help speed up healing.
Check out: Everything you need to know about cocoa butter »
The aloe vera plant has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce skin swelling and pain. To treat a hickey, apply a thin layer of aloe vera gel or cream to the bruise at least twice per day.
Learn more: 7 amazing uses for aloe vera »
Topical and oral arnica are widely available over the counter at most pharmacies. Using arnica can help speed up the healing of the bruise from a hickey.
Learn more about arnica and healing »
Hickeys won’t go away overnight, no matter how hard you try. These 10 tricks may help speed up the healing process by a day or two, but they aren’t foolproof methods. There’s always a chance that some of these techniques may not have any effect at all for you.
In the meantime, covering the hickey up is your best bet. It may mean two weeks of scarves, but in the case of hickeys, time really does heal all wounds.
Learn more: The 4 best vitamins for your skin »