Removing a hickey is what many people who have just fallen in love want to do. Whether you’re new or old, these tricks can help.

This creates a hickey

A hickey is a small bruise, also called a hematoma. By sucking on the skin, small blood vessels burst, and the blood spreads to the surrounding tissue. That’s why a bruise appears. And as is usual with bruises, they can also take on a wide variety of colors over time: red, green, yellow.

But beware: A hickey is not only an exciting token of love, it can also cause unpleasant excitement. There are a particularly large number of small blood vessels in the neck. If they burst, they can, in the worst case, lead to a blood clot that can trigger a stroke. So be careful in this area.

In general, hickeys are harmless. They will go away on their own after about one to three weeks. Don’t you want to wait that long? You can help with a few tricks.

Remove hickey – is that possible?

You really can’t really remove a hickey, but you can speed up the healing process. Of course, it depends on how intense the bruise is. Three strategies can help to keep the love secret to yourself:

Don’t let a fresh stain get bigger: As with many injuries, ice is the first choice of remedy. You can put it on the affected area. The cold ice can prevent more blood from spreading. If you don’t have ice to hand, you can use other cool items, such as a cold towel or frozen food. Here you can get creative. Cooling several times a day works best.
If the stain is two to three days old, only heat can help. You can warm the spot with a hot-water bottle or grain pillow to stimulate blood circulation and thus also to decongest the blood under the hematoma. But a hot bath or a visit to the sauna are also ways to shorten the healing process. Common ointments available in pharmacies for wound healing can also be tried.
If all else fails, there is only one solution: hide the stain. Especially in winter, a thick scarf around the neck is not conspicuous. You can also do a lot with make-up.