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5 Top Tips for Removing Hickeys Fast

Updated on April 19, 2014
How do you get rid of unsightly red marks? Is it even possible?
How do you get rid of unsightly red marks? Is it even possible? | Source

Hickeys are something that many people regret, especially if they appear on the neck. They’re unsightly red marks, and a tell-tale sign that you and your partner have been very passionate the night or so before. To make it worse, they last days. It’s time to find ways of removing hickeys fast, without investing in expensive creams or dangerous chemical treatments. Here are five top tips for removing hickeys fast at home.

What Are Hickeys?

Before we move on, let’s look into what hickeys actually are. This will help you understand more about removing them. Hickeys and bruises looks extremely similar, and they are also created for very similar reasons. The marks are signs that blood vessels in your body have burst, and hickeys can appear anywhere. The blood vessels burst due to the pressure of the sucking motion.

It is due to the discoloration of the skin that makes them unsightly, and sometimes embarrassing. The only way to get rid of hickeys is to help your body repair. The good news is this can be done with natural products. It is a similar process to helping bruises heal.

Using Toothpaste to Help the Healing of Hickeys

One of the most effective ways to get rid of hickeys is to use toothpaste. Peppermint toothpaste is preferred over the others. The ingredients inside this over-the-counter option help to improve circulation of the blood. The blood leaves the area where the broken vessels are and transports around the rest of the body. This quickly helps to remove the severity of the red mark. It will take time, but you should see the color change within 24 hours of the first application.

You only need a little toothpaste to do the job. Rub it directly on the area, and leave it there for about four minutes. You should feel the skin start to tingle. It is just the mint working within the nerves and nothing to worry about. When you’re ready to remove it, just use a warm washcloth.

Ice cubes aren't just for drinks. They can help get rid of hickeys fast.
Ice cubes aren't just for drinks. They can help get rid of hickeys fast. | Source

Reduce Inflammation with Ice

You can also help to reduce the inflammation of the broken blood vessels using ice. The best part is this is completely free to do! Never put ice directly onto the skin. Wrap it, or your frozen veggies (whatever you are using, up in an old t-shirt or clean dishcloth and then place it on the affected area.

You only need it on the area for a couple of minutes, although up to 20 minutes is preferred to really help get rid of hickeys. However, if the cold is too unbearable then you should remove it. This helps with removing hickeys fast because it helps to force the blood vessels further into the body. The blood vessels go deeper into layers of skin because they try to keep your body warm.

Have you used any of these methods to get rid of hickeys?

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Massage the Area to Improve Blood Flow

Remember that it is all blood that has collected in the area. You want to get the blood circulating around the body again, and what better way to do that then with a massage. You don’t need any special equipment or to hire someone for this. Simply use your own fingers and gently kneed into the area. Chances are the hickeys are on your neck, making them easier to reach by yourself.

Massage in a circular pattern. This helps to encourage the blood to start flowing again, and you should see improvements after around 24 to 48 hours. You only need to massage for a couple of minutes, but it can feel nice to keep going if you are struggling with stress. Apply as much pressure as you can stand. This really will depend on the part of the neck that the hickey is on.

Toothbrushes have a lot of uses, including removing hickeys fast.
Toothbrushes have a lot of uses, including removing hickeys fast. | Source

Brush Away With a New Toothbrush

Buy a new toothbrush and use it on the affected area. Some people will only use this method when they’re removing hickeys fast. It helps to improve circulation, and pushes the blood vessels further into your skin so the redness goes down. Avoid pressing too hard when using this method. Not only can it be painful, but you can also damage the blood vessels further and this makes your hickey look worse.

Use the brush in a circular motion. Like the massage, you are aiming to improve the blood circulation and this is the best way to do that. Take about 15 minutes to work on the area and then stop. You will usually see the area looks worst for the first 15 minutes afterwards. Don’t worry about this. It will go down as long as you were not too rough. After 15 minutes use some ice to help reduce the swelling.

You can repeat this method as many times as you need afterwards. It all depends on how quickly you want to get rid of the hickey and just how bad it is.

Scrape With a Coin

Finally, you could consider scraping the area with the coin. If you don’t like the idea of pain, then this is one to avoid. There is no guarantee that it works either. Some people find that the coin helps to push the vessels back under layers of skin to help reduce the redness. However, the scraping could end up making the redness look worse, like the toothbrush method.

Take a larger coin and use it as if you were spreading butter on your toast. You will need a mirror to be able to see if the redness is going down or not. If after 15 minutes you see no difference (if you can see that through the scraping marks), then stop. It is not worth damaging your skin.

While opting for this method, it is worth using vitamin K cream. This will help to repair the damage and reduce the swelling on the area. Reviva Labs Vitamin K Cream, which is included above, is a great option to use.

More Ways to Get Rid of Hickeys Fast

Covering Up Your Hickeys

If removing hickeys fast is proving to be an issue, you need to look into covering them up. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to do this, and something for all types of occasions. The simplest and quickest way is to wear something around the area. You could opt for a turtleneck sweater, a scarf or a choker necklace to cover the area. The downside to this is when you are indoors or when it is warm outside. You want an option that works on the beach or for a special evening event.

Makeup is your option when it comes to these types of needs. Look for a concealer that works with your skin tone, and apply it over the hickey. A conealer with a green tint is great for balancing out the red, and soon nobody will realize that there was an issue.

Removing hickeys fast is possible. Toothpaste and ice are the two most common and effective options. However, if you’re not bothered about pain, you could try a toothbrush or coin to help work away the area. If you’re still struggling to get rid of hickeys, don’t be afraid to cover them up!

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