In this article, we are going to tell you how long a hickey last. Hickey is also known as love bite or kiss mark. You may definitely want to get rid of it as soon as possible. As it may embarrass you in public if others note them. Your friends may make fun of it. It is caused due to kissing, sucking or biting aggressively by your partner. The discoloration on the supple skin of your neck, arm or lips can last for 5-12 days. Though it is not harmful and does not leave a permanent mark on your skin but it may make you the center of discussion. People may notice it and unwanted rumors can be created by them.
Causes of Hickey:
A hickey can be caused due to aggressive kissing or biting by your partner. The blood vessels lying under the skin surface get damaged if sucked aggressively. The normal blood flow in that area gets interrupted and leads to a formation of red spot in that area. It turns brown or dark purple later. Since, the blood gets clotted under the skin. This hickey last for 5-12 days if left untreated. Hickeys are painless and temporary. When you are spotted with a hickey then people may think you had been naughty last night? Well, you obviously don’t want to face this situation. Don’t worry for this, read more to know how long a hickey last and how one can get rid of it.
Duration for which Hickey Last:
Hickeys can be of various sizes. It depends on the intensity of the aggression with which your skin has been bitten. It also depends on the extent of damages caused in the blood vessels of your skin. Normally, hickey goes away in 1-2 weeks. If you are applying various home remedies on it then it can increase the recovery period. A person’s health can also elongate the duration for which hickey last. The clotted blood in the area of hickey can disperse to surrounding tissues and gets reabsorbed. In this way, it vanishes from your skin. You now know how long hickey last so we can move further to tell you how to get rid of it.
Natural Remedies to Shorten the Duration:
1) Aloe Vera to Make Hickey Last for Smaller Duration
Aloe Vera is known to have many skin-friendly properties. It is a good moisturiser and can decrease the sensitivity of the affected skin. It helps in soothing the skin and prevents inflammation too. With the immense healing properties of Aloe Vera you can treat the burst tissues of the skin fast. For this, you can apply the Aloe Vera directly on the affected skin area. Massage with this gel 2-3 times a day. You may try using Aloe Vera based cream or lotion.
2) Cold Compress to Reduce the Duration for which Hickey Last
You may try cold compress to heal hickey faster. Cold compress can constrict the blood vessel which prevents the further clotting, bleeding and inflammation. Clots lying under the skin can be broken by cold compress so it disperses from its place. For this, take a clean cloth and put some ice cubes into it. Wrap the cloth and place it over hickey. Leave it there for 10 minutes. Do not use ice cubes directly on your skin as it can cause ice burn. Repeat it throughout the day. It reduces swelling and pain (if any) in your hickey. You may put a spoon in a freezer for ten minutes and then wrap it in a cloth. Gently rub it over the hickey. Repeat this process as many times as you can. It fades the hickey faster. Doing this would make hickey last only for 2-3 days.
3) Finger Massage to Make Hickey Last for Smaller Duration
If you have a hickey on your arms or on your neck then you may try giving finger massage to it. Massaging the affected skin area can improve blood circulation in that portion. As a result, blood disperses out to surrounding skin. It can fade the discoloration in a few hours. Obviously, the time duration for which hickey last varies in different cases. For this, massage the area with your fingers several times a day. If the hickey is tiny then it may go away instantly.
4) Vitamin C to Get Rid of Hickey
Vitamin C is very good for your skin health. It encourages collagen formation in your skin. Collagen produces blood vessels and skin cells. It helps in self-repair of the skin. For this, you may take out fresh juice of orange or lemon and apply it directly on the hickey using cotton. Repeat it several times a day. This may reduce the redness of skin and make hickey fader. You may drink vitamin C rich juices too.
5) Massage with Cylindrical Objects
You may massage the hickey with a cylindrical object like a pen cap. It will induce blood flow in that region and make hickey fade away. Similarly, use a comb or toothbrush to massage the affected area for 5-10 minutes. Blood clots will break and disperses in the adjoining blood vessels. Repeat the process for several times a day. In this way, you may get rid of hickey naturally.
6) Tuna Oil to Reduce the Duration for which Hickey Last
Tuna oil can be used to get rid of a hickey. Hickey last only for a few hours if you apply tuna oil on it repeatedly. For this, apply some tuna oil over the hickey. Leave it for 10 minutes. Use a hair dryer to dry out the tuna oil on your skin. You may notice that hickey is disappearing too. This is one of the preferred ways to treat hickey faster.
7) Warm Compress to Remove Hickey
Hickey Last for a smaller duration if you apply hot or warm compress over the affected area. You may try applying hot towel on the hickey for 10 minutes. Repeat it 2-3 times a day. You may put a heating pad on it. It improves blood circulation in the affected area and fades away the discoloration gradually.
