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Uh oh. You’ve been caught sporting a big hickey and now are getting interrogated about where it came from and who gave it to you. How do you get yourself out of this sticky situation? Lucky for you, we’ve got a whole list of excuses you can use to explain away that suspicious mark on your skin.
Things You Should Know
- Explain that it’s not a hickey, but actually a bruise or other injury left after some accident.
- Say your skin became irritated due to some sort of allergic reaction.
- Claim that it’s something else entirely, like a mosquito bite or a temporary tattoo attempt gone wrong.
- Tell them it’s a skin condition, such as dry skin, acne, or an ingrown hair.
Steps
Expert Q&A
Video
Tips
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If you want to get rid of a hickey fast, apply a cold compress to the spot during the first 48 hours. Apply the compress for 10 to 20 minutes, then remove it and rest for 10 minutes. Repeat this process for those first 2 days.[6]Thanks
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After the first 48 hours, switch to a warm compress and massage the area. You can also treat the hickey with something like aloe vera or arnica salve.[7]Thanks
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If you’re trying to hide your hickey, the easiest way is to cover it up with something like a bandage, a piece of clothing, or some type of accessory, like a scarf or piece of jewelry.Thanks
Tips from our Readers
- If you don't want your mom to know where you got a hickey just put a bandage on it and say, "The cat scratched me." (But only if you actually have a cat, of course.)
- My mom asked what was on my neck, and I simply said I hit myself on the door by accident while i was looking on my phone. She believed me... I think.
References
- ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352512622002752
- ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/symptom-checker/Pages/symptomviewer.aspx?symptom=Mosquito+Bite
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8610-allergies
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21573-skin-diseases
- ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001475.htm
- ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=4483
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-get-rid-of-a-hickey/