Remove a Hickey

Giving a hickey is pretty easy, but removing one quickly is not, and having one in plain view can be embarrassing. If you have one, here's a collection of tips that have worked for people. And, remember that hickey removal is not a topic of scientific study, so these methods might not work reliably!

Steps

 * 1) Apply an icepack or cold spoon on the hickey as soon as possible after receiving it. You can wrap some ice in a towel, use pre-frozen ice packs or put a spoon in the freezer for a few minutes. Gently hold the cold compress to the skin for several minutes (up to 20 minutes, if it doesn’t feel too uncomfortable), remove the compress for several minutes, and then apply it again.
 * 2) *If using a spoon, you will need to repeat freezing as a warm spoon is useless. You must use a lot of pressure with the spoon but should see results over a few minutes of doing this.
 * 3) Try the toothbrush or comb method. Many people swear by it.
 * 4) *Lightly brush the hickey and the area around it with a stiff-bristled toothbrush or a comb. Doing this stimulates circulation, but pressing too hard can make the hickey worse.
 * 5) *Wait about 15 minutes. The redness and swelling will spread, but will be less obvious after about 15 minutes.
 * 6) *Apply a cold compress, as above.
 * 7) *Repeat if necessary. Depending on the magnitude of your hickey, this method may work or it may just spread the discoloration a bit.
 * 8) Use a coin. This method is probably the most painful.
 * 9) *Stretch the skin flat (pulling away from the hickey on two opposite sides).
 * 10) *Use the edge of a large coin to scrape the skin. Use the coin like the hickey was butter on toast, and spread outward. You must press quite HARD (as hard as you can, but not so that you break the skin, bleed or hurt). What some people believe this does is push the excess blood, which has escaped from the capillaries, out of the surface skin. There will be redness from the scraping, but that will go away much faster than a hickey. Even then, a scrape is much less conspicuous than a hickey.
 * 11) Apply a layer of toothpaste to the hickey, and when it stops tingling in a few minutes, remove the toothpaste with a warm washcloth. Wait 24 hours and repeat if necessary. You'll see better results if you can do this ASAP.
 * 12) Conceal the hickey with makeup. The most effective is green-tinted concealer, as it's designed to negate red skin tones. Apply a foundation (one a little lighter than your skin tone) directly on and all around the hickey so it's not obvious you’re concealing something. If you don't have concealer, try an eyeshadow that’s lighter than your skin tone.
 * 13) Cover the hickey completely. Wear a turtleneck, scarf or collared shirt or blouse (dress appropriate for the weather!). Style your hair (if it's long enough) so it hangs over the hickey. Frequently check the positioning of the covering agent, ensuring it still hides the hickey.
 * 14) Apply arnica salve. Arnica is an herbal salve that helps reduce swelling and can minimize the appearance of a hickey. Some people claim witch hazel will also shorten hickey healing time.
 * 15) Apply Vitamin K cream. Vitamin K may help reabsorb the blood stuck near the surface of the skin that causes the appearance of a hickey (more specifically the redness or brownness).
 * 16) Apply heat to a hickey that lasts more than a couple days. Saturate a washcloth in hot water, wring it out, and hold it to your skin for several minutes.  Reheat the washcloth with more water as necessary. Alternatively, you can try a reusable heat patch from the pharmacy--it stays hot longer, it's easy to use and cheap.
 * 17) Massage the area. This helps get blood circulation going and will help at the very least to lighten the damage.
 * 18) Wait. Hickeys will usually fade naturally in a couple of days to a week.  There’s no sure way to get rid of one other than waiting, so be patient and try to minimize and hide its appearance as much as you can.

Tips

 * Following the steps in How to Get Rid of Bruises may also help, since both hickeys and bruises are caused by pooled blood.
 * If someone notices your hickey, play it off. The excuse of the "curling iron burn" is common, but it doesn't work because a burn and a bruise look nothing alike. Try a different excuse, one that would cause a bruise, like you got hit with a ping-pong ball or other projectile. People probably won’t believe you, but at least it’s plausible.

Warnings

 * Applying too much pressure to the hickey will cause the blood to go away but can leave a lasting bruise. These bruises often have a greenish cast.
 * Never apply ice directly to a hickey. Wrap ice cubes in a towel to make a compress, and remove it if the cold becomes too painful.  You can get frostbite if it’s too cold, or if you hold it on for too long.
 * If someone suggests a hickey "cure" that sounds dangerous or stupid, don't try it. Use common sense; a hickey really isn't a big deal.

Things You'll Need

 * Toothbrush
 * Eyeshadow or foundation a little lighter than your skin tone
 * Concealer (preferably the green kind)
 * Ice pack (pre-frozen ice pack or ice cubes wrapped in a towel)
 * Concealing clothes

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Get Rid of Bruises
 * How to Give Someone a Hickey
 * How to Make Out
 * How to French Kiss