A hickey, also known as a love bite or kiss mark, is essentially a bruise caused by sucking or aggressively kissing another persons skin. It is a dark red or purple mark on the skin caused by intense suction, and like other bruises, it should fade in about two weeks. The neck is a common site for hickeys because of its sensitivity to touch. Hickeys are usually more common among teenagers, but it is not uncommon for adults to walk away from a moment of passion with a love bite or two that they may not want to display publicly.
To get rid of a hickey, you can use warm compresses to help open up your body's blood vessels and break down the stain, taking away the red blood cells that have spilled out from the blood vessels and into your skin. You can also use ice packs to bring down swelling and reduce bleeding, but only for the first one to two days after the mark appears. If the hickey hurts, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever like acetaminophen.
If you want to conceal a hickey, you can cover it with clothing or makeup. Options include wearing a scarf, turtleneck, or band-aid.
