Hickeys are caused when blood comes to the surface of the skin and is trapped and are very similar to bruises. The skin reddens or darkens and may be slightly irritated by touch. Many teenagers, young adults, and newlyweds end up with hickeys on their necks from passionate make-out sessions with their partner. It can be an embarrassing trophy that is hard to cover up so here are some quick tips to getting rid of a hickey as fast as possible:

• Ice. Ice can help relieve the swelling and inflammation under the skin from the hickey. It can also bring fresh blood to the surface so that the older blood that has gotten stuck can be carried away through the bloodstream. Simply wrap a piece of ice in a soft cloth and apply to the hickey for 15 minutes. Give your body a break for 20 minutes to let the area warm back up and repeat. Repeat this process a few times a day and the hickey will disappear no time.
   
• Comb Your Skin. Take a small, thin comb and rub the smooth side of it on the hickey area over and over. This helps new blood to rise to the surface and move the older blood from it's position. The only catch is that you can wind up rubbing your neck raw so pay attention to your skin and listen to your body if it begins to hurt.
   
• Aloe Vera and Vitamin E. Apply these products on the area and keep it moistened. These products can help the body to heal faster and refresh older cells. Simply break open a vitamin e capsule and apply to the hickey throughout the day or find creams that contain both of these ingredients.
   
• Massage it Out. Massage can help to break up the damaged cells faster and put them back into the bloodstream to be taken care of by the body. Massage the hickey itself and surrounding area for 10 minutes at a time, multiple times a day. Combine this method with the icing method to help reduce the redness of the mark even quicker.
   
• Cover it Up. So, the embarrassing mark isn't going away and you might have to let it fade off by itself. This could be pretty upsetting but fear not. Simply wear turtleneck shirts for a couple of days and apply heavy make-up to the area. You might not be fashionable but you won't get disappointing looks when passing your boss.

A hickey should naturally heal on it's own in less than a week. If a hickey is lasting longer than 10 days then it might be time to see a doctor, as you may have serious blood clotting issues that need to be taken care of by a professional. If your hickey begins to hurt then relax, do some light massages around the skin, and take over the counter pain medication to help reduce the pain and possible swelling. Relax and enjoy the love mark while it lasts and remember to let your partner know to be easier next time to avoid this hickey hassle.

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