Hickey or a love bite is caused by sucking, biting or kissing the skin too hard. The pressure causes the veins to rupture and the blood to clot under the skin which appears like a bruise. Usually, hickeys take a week or two to heal on their own and once healed, they don’t even leave a scar behind.
Though hickeys are not dangerous, they can be annoying in the aesthetical point of view. Instead of resorting on chemical based creams, the appearance of hickeys can be reduced with the help of home remedies.
How to Get Rid of Hickeys Using Home Remedies?
Reacting as soon as possible is one of the best ways to reduce the appearance of hickeys quickly. The longer you wait, the longer it takes to heal. Below are the 14 effective home remedies you can try to reduce the redness and swelling of hickeys quickly.
1. Ice
Apply ice or cold compress as soon as you see a hickey to reduce it immediately. It helps to constrict ruptured blood vessels, reduce bleeding and allows blood circulation. This helps in reducing the swelling and redness caused by hickey.
How to Use:
- Wrap few ice cubes in a clean towel.
- Apply the compress directly to the affected area for several minutes.
- Wait for 15 – 30 minutes and apply again.
- Repeat several times in a day until you notice the results.
2. Chilled Spoon
Just like cold compress, chilled spoon as provides relief from the redness and swelling caused by hickeys.
How to Use:
- Place a metallic, stainless steel spoon in the freezer for 15 – 30 minutes.
- Apply it to the affected area with slight pressure for several minutes.
- When the spoon gets warmer, place it back in the freezer.
- Repeat the process several times in a day until the results are visible.
3. Banana Peel
Banana Peel is one of the best ways to get rid of hickey quickly. It contains vitamin K which helps heal the capillaries and stop the accumulation of blood under the skin.
How to Use:
- Cut a banana peel into pieces.
- Apply the inside of the peel on hickey and secure it with a gauze or medical tape.
- Leave it on for 10 – 30 minutes.
- Repeat the process 2 – 3 times daily until you observe the results.
4. Peppermint
The stimulating effect of peppermint oil stimulates blood circulation which helps in preventing blood clotting, redness and swelling.
How to Use:
- Using a cotton ball apply few drops of peppermint oil on the hickey, and leave it on to dry completely.
- If the direct application is causing irritation, then you can dilute it with lavender oil or any other carrier oil.
- Alternatively, you can apply peppermint toothpaste on the affected area and rinse off the application after 20 minutes.
- Repeat any process 2 – 3 times in a day until you notice the results.
5. Warm Compress
If your hickey has already lasted for 2 – 3 days then warm compress is one of the best ways to get rid of it quickly. Warm compress helps to dilate the clotted blood vessels and speed up the dispersing process.
How to Use:
- Soak a washcloth in warm water for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Wring out the excess water.
- Place on the affected area for 3 – 5 minutes.
- Repeat the process 3 times in a day until results are visible.
- Note: You can alternately use a hair dryer or reusable heat patch combined with a gentle massage.
6. Rubbing Alcohol
If it has been just a few hours since you received a hickey, then rubbing alcohol is the best home remedy to reduce it. Rubbing alcohol contains antiseptic, cooling and soothing properties which help to reduce the appearance of a hickey.
How to Use:
- Soak a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol.
- Gently rub the affected area for 2 – 3 minutes and leave it to dry completely.
- Repeat the process several times a day until you notice the results.
Caution: Rubbing alcohol may dry out skin. Use moisturizing lotion after the process.
7. Cocoa Butter
Massaging with cocoa butter is one of the effective ways to heal bruises like hickeys. It has excellent moisturizing properties and encourages the growth of skin tissues.
How to Use:
- Apply a warm compress and wipe the hickey with a warm wash cloth.
- Massage cocoa butter on the hickey for 3 – 5 minutes.
- Repeat the process 4 – 5 times daily until the results are visible.
Alternative Options: You can alternately use olive oil or almond oil instead of cocoa butter.
8. Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is the best natural remedy for treating hickeys faster. The tannins present in witch hazel have astringent properties which contract the skin tissue to reduce the swelling, pain and redness.
How to Do:
- Using a cotton ball, apply witch hazel directly on the hickey.
- Leave it to dry completely.
- Repeat the application several times in a day to notice the results.
For Effective Results: You can combine witch hazel with rubbing alcohol or arnica salve.
9. Aloe Vera
The soothing properties of aloe vera gel repair the broken blood vessels and reduce the pain and swelling.
How to Do:
- Cut an aloe vera leaf to extract the gel.
- Apply the aloe vera gel using a finger or spoon to the affected area.
- Leave it to dry completely.
- Repeat several times daily until results are visible.
Tip: You can Store the remaining aloe vera gel in an airtight container in the refrigerator for further use within 48 hours. You can also use aloe vera creams or lotion instead of fresh aloe vera gel.
10. Coin Method
Though it looks strange, this method has provided successful results in curing hickeys. Rubbing with coin helps to break up the blood clots and stimulate blood circulation.
How to Do:
- Using two fingers, pull the skin back on either side of the affected area.
- Use the edge of the coin to scrape outwards from the hickey.
- Continue regularly until results are visible.
Caution: The skin will redden but will go away after a few minutes. You can alternately use a soft-bristled toothbrush instead of a coin.
11. Apple Cider Vinegar
If it is already been 24 – 36 hours after receiving a hickey, then you can try using apple cider vinegar to remove it. It helps to increase the blood flow and reabsorb the blood pooling under the skin.
How to Do:
- Soak a washcloth in diluted apple cider vinegar.
- Wring out the excess vinegar.
- Apply to the affected areas for 1 – 2minutes.
- Gently massage the area with the cloth for 1 – 2 minutes.
- Repeat the process for 10 – 15 minutes.
- Follow this method 2 – 3 times daily until the results are visible.
Caution: Dilute the vinegar to prevent tingling sensations during application.
12. Massage
To prevent blood from clotting under the skin, massage the affected area. This also helps to reabsorb the blood into the bloodstream and additionally lightens skin tone.
How to Do:
- Place two fingers on the affected area. (Avoid exerting too much pressure).
- Gently rub the area in circular motions for 1 – 2 minutes.
- Change the direction of the circular motion and continue rubbing.
- Repeat several times daily for 5 – 7 minutes until results are visible.
Note: Applying pressure with your fingers or a lipstick case can also reduce and cure hickeys.
13. Chamomile
Chamomile oil is one of the quick healing agents for hickeys. It penetrates deep into the skin to reduce swelling, skin irritation and redness.
How to Do:
- Combine few drops of chamomile oil into any carrier oil (coconut oil or almond oil).
- Gently massage the mixture on the hickeys.
- Leave it on to dry completely.
- Repeat the process 3 times in a day.
Dietary Tips for Treating Hickeys:
Apart from natural remedies, consuming certain foods and supplements can speed up the healing process of hickeys.
- Vitamin C helps to repair skin. Foods containing vitamin C include oranges, guava, and papaya.
- Vitamin K helps the body reabsorb pooled blood. Foods containing vitamin K include cabbage, brown rice, kale, spinach, soybean oil, broccoli, and fish oil.
- Papain breaks up dead skin cells that cause bruising. Food that contain papain include papaya, pineapple, and apple.
- Salicylic acid, found in strawberries, acts as a blood thinner and reduces swelling.
- Pycnogenol is an antioxidant generally made from pine tree bark which strengthens capillaries, arteries, and veins and prevents the bruising. Consult a doctor before using this supplement.
- Bilberry extract is an anti-oxidant that reduces and slowly eliminates bruises or hickeys. Consult a doctor before using this supplement.
Tips and Precautions:
- Patch test the ingredient before trying out any treatment.
- If you want to hide the hickeys, use a good concealer or foundation.
- Instead of throwing out, used tea bags can be applied to heal the hickey.
- Massage a pineapple piece or apply pineapple juice to hickeys. The bromelain helps to dissolve the blood clots and fade the bruising.
- Crush some parsley leaves, apply on the affected area and secure it with a gauze. Replace the parsley leaves with fresh ones after an hour. Repeat 2 – 3 times in a day.
- The soon you act, the fast you can get relief from the hickey. So, make sure to start using any remedy as soon as you notice the bruise.
- Don’t scratch or rub harshly on the affected areas as it can worsen the problem.
- Over the counter medications such as aspirin and Excedrin can help ease the pain associated with hickeys and increase blood circulation.
- Consult a doctor or health care provider if hickeys do not go away after two weeks as it may cause other health problems.
We hope this article was helpful for you. If you have any queries, suggestions then write to us in the comment section below. And don’t forget to share your experience…
