What is a Hickey?
A hickey is like a bruise on your neck. Small blood vessels break under your skin. Hickeys take 1-2 weeks to go away completely, but you can hide them and help them heal faster.
Quick Treatment Rules
- First 2 days: Use cold (ice, frozen spoons)
- After 2-3 days: Use heat (warm cloth, heating pad)
- Always: Keep it covered and use healing creams
Best Ways to Hide Hickeys
Clothing Tricks
- Turtleneck shirts (best option)
- High-collar shirts
- Hoodies with hood up
- Scarves (wrap around neck once or twice)
- Choker necklaces (thick ones work best)
DIY Covering Ideas
- Use a long t-shirt as a scarf
- Wear ribbon as a choker
- Try multiple necklaces layered together
- Style your hair to fall over your neck
- Use bandanas wrapped around neck
Healing Treatments You Can Buy
Drugstore Creams ($5-15 each)
- Arnica cream – Best option, helps bruises heal faster
- Vitamin K cream – Helps blood vessels repair
- Aloe vera gel – Reduces swelling, very cheap
- Witch hazel – Reduces swelling ($3)
Cold Treatment (First 2 Days)
- Wrap ice in a towel
- Press on hickey for 10 minutes
- Take 20-minute break
- Repeat 3-4 times daily
Frozen Spoon Method:
- Put 2 spoons in freezer for 10 minutes
- Press cold spoon on hickey for 5 minutes
- Switch spoons when warm
Heat Treatment (After Day 2)
- Soak cloth in warm water
- Place on hickey for 10 minutes
- Repeat 3 times daily
Simple DIY Home Remedies
Tea Bag Method
- Make hot tea
- Let tea bag cool down
- Press warm tea bag on hickey for 10 minutes
- Green tea works best
Aloe Vera Method
- Cut fresh aloe leaf or use store gel
- Rub gel on hickey gently
- Let it dry naturally
- Do 2-3 times daily
Gentle Massage
- After day 3, gently rub hickey in circles
- Use soft toothbrush very lightly
- Do once daily to help blood flow
Creative Hiding Methods
- Temporary tattoos – Apply over hickey
- Band-aids – Say you cut yourself shaving
- Medical tape with gauze – Say you have skin irritation
Daily Routine
Morning:
- Apply healing cream
- Put on covering clothes/scarf
- Style hair to help hide
- Check in mirror
Evening:
- Clean area gently
- Apply aloe vera or healing cream
- Let skin breathe while sleeping
Emergency Kit to Keep Ready
- Scarves and high-neck shirts
- Ice packs or frozen spoons
- Arnica cream
- Aloe vera gel
- Choker necklaces
- Hair clips
When to See a Doctor
- Hickey doesn’t fade after 2 weeks
- Area gets infected (red, warm, has pus)
- You feel dizzy or sick
- Pain gets worse
Quick Tips
- Start treatment immediately for best results
- Don’t scratch or pick at it
- Be patient – healing takes time
- Most people won’t notice
- Stay confident
Budget Shopping List
- Arnica cream ($8)
- Aloe vera gel ($3)
- Witch hazel ($3)
- Lightweight scarves ($5-10)
- Total: Around $20-25
Remember: Hickeys are just bruises and will heal naturally. These methods help you feel more confident while waiting for it to disappear. The combination of covering it up and using healing treatments works best.
