How to Get Rid of a Hickey Fast

Co-authored by Alicia Ramos

Last Updated: December 10, 2021 References

A hickey is essentially a bruise created by sucking or biting the skin until the blood vessels below the skin break. Although this highly-recognizable “love bite” may not cause any pain, it can be embarrassing and difficult to conceal. Like most bruises, hickeys take between one to two weeks to heal, but if you treat the wound quickly it may speed up the healing process. Knowing how to treat the bruise and cover up its traces can help you feel more confident and look your best.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Treating the Hickey for the First 48 Hours

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Choose a cold compress. You can use ice or a cold compress, but be sure to wrap it in a towel.^{[1]
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Research source} Or, put a metal spoon in the freezer, and apply the back side of the spoon directly to the site of the hickey.
2
Apply cold compress to the hickey. Cold helps bruises by reducing swelling and slowing blood circulation.^{[2]
X
Trustworthy Source
University of Rochester Medical Center
Leading academic medical center in the U.S. focused on clinical care and research
Go to source} Apply the cold compress for 10 to 20 minutes at a time, several times each day.
- For best results, use cold treatment in the first 24 to 48 hours after acquiring the bruise.^{[3]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  University of Rochester Medical Center
  Leading academic medical center in the U.S. focused on clinical care and research
  Go to source}
- After icing for 10 to 20 minutes, remove the ice pack for at least 10 minutes before reapplying it as needed.^{[4]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  University of Rochester Medical Center
  Leading academic medical center in the U.S. focused on clinical care and research
  Go to source}
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3
Prevent further trauma. Certain activities can cause bruises (including hickies) to swell, which may prolong the healing process. For the first 48 hours after you've gotten a hickey, avoid "traumatic" activities, including:
- hot showers
- hot tubs
- heat packs
- drinking alcoholic beverages

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Caring for the Hickey After 48 Hours

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Switch to a warm compress. Ice is only really effective for the first 48 hours.^{[5]
X
Trustworthy Source
University of Rochester Medical Center
Leading academic medical center in the U.S. focused on clinical care and research
Go to source} After icing the hickey for 48 hours, you'll want to switch to a warm compress for the remainder of your treatment regimen.
- Ice heals the broken blood vessels, but heat will help increase blood flow to the area. This will facilitate healing and the reabsorption of blood.^{[6]
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  Research source}
- Use a hot water bottle or a microwavable heating pad.^{[7]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  University of Rochester Medical Center
  Leading academic medical center in the U.S. focused on clinical care and research
  Go to source}
- Do not apply heat therapy for longer than 20 minutes at a time. Don't use heat therapy if you have diabetes or poor circulation.^{[8]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  University of Rochester Medical Center
  Leading academic medical center in the U.S. focused on clinical care and research
  Go to source}
2
Massage the bruise. In addition to applying a warm compress, massaging a bruise like a hickey can help facilitate blood flow to the site of the injury.^{[9]
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Research source} Common methods of massaging a hickey include rubbing it with your hands or applying pressure using:
- a toothbrush with stiff bristles^{[10]
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- a pen cap^{[11]
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- the cap from a tube of chapstick^{[12]
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3
Treat the skin. Icing, heating, and massaging the skin will all help the bruise heal, but you may want to treat the skin in order to make the physical mark disappear more quickly. No skin treatment will provide instant results, but will help speed up the healing process.^{[13]
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Research source} Common skin treatments include:
- aloe vera^{[14]
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- Arnica salve^{[15]
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- Preparation H^{[16]
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  Research source}
- taking vitamins C, E, and K supplements^{[17]
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  Research source}^{[18]
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  Expert Source
  
  Alicia Ramos
  Skincare Professional
  Expert Interview. 12 June 2019.}
- taking bilberry extract^{[19]
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- taking bromelain^{[20]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Covering Up a Hickey

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Wear your hair down. If you have long hair, you can simply wear your hair down to cover up hickies on your neck and shoulders.^{[21]
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Research source} Not everyone will have hair long enough to conceal a hickey. Fortunately, if you do not have long hair, there are still plenty of options to cover up your hickey.
2
Apply makeup. While the bruise from a hickey heals, you may want to cover it up so that it is less visible. Try using concealer, foundation, and/or powder to mask the hickey.^{[22]
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- Makeup should be chosen carefully to match your natural skin tone.^{[23]
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- In a pinch, you might be able to get away with applying toothpaste to the hickey. This will only work if you have a naturally pale complexion, and is much less efficient than makeup.^{[24]
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3
Hide the hickey. Depending on how you typically dress and what time of year it is, there are many ways you can quickly and easily hide your hickey. The key is hiding the hickey in a way that won't draw attention to it. Try concealing the bruise by wearing:
- a bandage^{[25]
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- a turtleneck^{[26]
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- a collard shirt^{[27]
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- a scarf^{[28]
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- a hooded sweatshirt^{[29]
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- a thick, wide necklace^{[30]
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Warnings

Don’t take aspirin to treat a hickey. This medication can thin the blood and make you bleed more easily. Although hickeys rarely require pain relief, you can take Tylenol or ibuprofen for pain without interrupting your bruise from healing.

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