Hickeys are unsightly bruises left behind from something that had too much suction on the skin. The suction could have been caused by kissing or a child who discovered that sucking on his or her arm left really "cool" marks or from a suction cup on a dart.
However the hickey got there, most people want it gone. If you don't want to have to cover it with a band-aid or make-up, then try one of these 10 home remedies for getting the hickey to go away fast.
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1. Cold spoon. No, it's not for eating ice cream. Cosmopolitan says that putting a metal spoon in the refrigerator or freezer for 8 to 10 minutes to get it cold and then "stroking" the hickey should reduce it. This is supposed to work well on a brand-new hickeys, and the process should be repeated throughout the day.
2. Cold compress. If a spoon isn't handy, Healthline offers the suggestion of applying a cold compress or ice pack to the site for 10 minutes every four to five hours. Do this for the first two days.
3. Warm compress. If the hickey is one that's been around for three to four days already, then instead of using cold, switch to a warm compress to encourage the flow of blood to the damaged area. Cosmopolitan recommends leaving the hot compress on for five minutes at a time.
4. Vitamin K. According to Cosmopolitan, vitamin K helps the body absorb blood clots, so eating foods that are high in vitamin K may aid in breaking up and absorbing the hickey. Some foods to consider are broccoli, kale, spinach and brown rice.
5. Vitamin C. Vitamin C is a great antioxidant that helps the body with healing and boosts the body's ability to produce collagen. Healthline states that you can take vitamin C orally or buy it as a topical cream you can apply directly to the hickey.
6. Aloe vera. Aloe vera has great healing and moisturizing properties that really aren't understood very well. Cosmopolitan recommends putting aloe on the hickey two times daily and letting it sit for 10 minutes before wiping it off.
7. Banana peel. Start this treatment off by eating the banana, simply because to not do so would be a waste. The peel is what's important in treating the hickey, though. Cosmopolitan recommends taking the inside of the banana peel and rubbing it on the hickey for 10 to 30 minutes, two to three times a day. The peel cools the area and causes the vessels to shrink and limit the bleeding.
8. Toothbrush. Another recommendation by Cosmopolitan is to take a super-soft toothbrush and gently massage the hickey and the area around it for five to 10 minutes. This stimulates the circulation and should aid in the healing process.
9. Peppermint oil. According to Healthline, one to two drops of peppermint oil combined with 12 drops of coconut or olive oil can help reduce the size and the severity of the hickey. The oil should be massaged into the hickey as often as necessary.
10. Cocoa butter. An excellent moisturizer, cocoa butter also helps nourish the skin. Healthline recommends applying it to a hickey twice a day as it may aid in the healing process.
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The next time you end up with a hickey, and you need to get rid of it fast, grab a spoon and throw it in the freezer. You may find you can reduce the little bugger faster than ever before.
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