Giving or receiving a hickey is pretty easy, even pleasurable. But there’s a price to be paid for the momentary pleasure triggered in the heat of passion
Afterwards you have to face the harsh reality of a curious or critical world. Some can wear a hickey like a badge of pride, but for others it’s simply embarrassing or humiliating.
So, the problem is, how to get rid of the hickey fast?
Removing one quickly is not easy, but the Life Daily team is always on the lookout for ways to help out in difficult situations.
We’ve come up with a collection of 10 methods for getting rid of hickeys that we know have worked for some people
But always take into account that hickey removal is not a topic of scientific study, so not all of these these methods might work for you.
If they don’t, you have no option other than to use methods six or ten.
Check them out:
1. The Ice-pack Or Cold Spoon Method
Apply to the hickey as soon as possible after receiving it.
Wrap ice in a towel,or use pre-frozen ice packs.
Alternatively, put a spoon in the freezer for a few minutes. Gently hold to the skin for up to 20 minutes, (if it doesn’t feel too uncomfortable).
Remove the ice or spoon for several minutes, then apply it again.
Note: If using a spoon, you must repeat freezing after a few minutes. You need to apply lot of pressure, but should see results quickly.
2. The Toothbrush Or Comb Method
Lightly brush the hickey and the area around it with a stiff-bristled toothbrush or a comb. This stimulates circulation, but don’t press too hard because this can make the hickey worse.
Wait about 15 minutes. The redness and swelling will spread at first but will soon be less obvious.
Apply a cold compress, as above.
Repeat if necessary. Depending on the strength of your hickey, this method may work or it may just spread the discoloration around.
(By the way, this method is probably the most painful.)
3.The Scraping Method
Stretch the skin flat.
Use the edge of a large coin to scrape the skin. Use the coin like the hickey was butter on toast, and spread outward.
Press as hard as you can, but not so that you break the skin.
There will be redness from the scraping, but that will soon disappear. And a scrape is much less conspicuous than a hickey.
4. The Toothpaste Method
Apply a layer of toothpaste to the hickey.
When it stops tingling in a few minutes, remove the toothpaste with a warm washcloth.
Wait 24 hours and repeat if necessary.
For best results do this as soon as possible.
5. The Makeup Method
Conceal the hickey with makeup.
Best is a green-tinted concealer.
Apply a foundation (one a little lighter than your skin tone) on and all around the hickey
If you don’t have concealer, try an eyeshadow that’s lighter than your skin tone.
6. The Cover-up Method
If you can’t remove it, just conceal it.
Cover the hickey completely.
Wear a turtleneck, scarf or collared shirt or blouse.
Try to dress appropriately for the weather.
7. The Arnica Salve Method
Arnica is an herbal salve that some claim helps reduce swelling and can minimize the appearance of a hickey. There is no scientific support for this claim.
An alternative balm is witch hazel, which can also shorten hickey healing time.
8. The Vitamin K Method
Apply Vitamin K cream.
Vitamin K can help to reabsorb the blood near the surface of the skin.
9. The Heat Method
Apply heat to a hickey that lasts more than a couple days.
Saturate a washcloth in hot water, wring it out, and hold it to your skin for several minutes.
Reheat the washcloth with more water as necessary.
Alternatively, you can try a reusable heat patch from the pharmacy – it stays hot longer, it’s easy to use and cheap.
10. The Waiting Method
This doesn’t really belong in a list of suggestions about how to remove a hickey, but it may prove to be the only option if all else fails.
Hickeys will usually fade naturally in a couple of days to a week.
There’s no sure way to get rid of one other than waiting.
Be patient and try to minimize or hide its appearance as much as you can.
If someone notices your hickey you only have two options:
Own up, without giving a too graphic description of how you got it. Or invent some unlikely reason for the mark. Women can use “curling iron burn” excuse.
Insist that you got struck by something which caused a bruise, like a ping-pong ball or other projectile.
People probably won’t believe you, but at least it’s plausible.
And our final bonus tip is – eat strawberries. They contain saliycylic acid which is a blood thinner and is a natural way to reduce swelling. They may not work, but it’s a delicious way to fail.
We hope you found some new ideas in our tips on how to get rid of hickeys fast.
Maybe you have your own special method that you’d like to share with our readers. You can tell them by using our comments feed below.
