Hickeys start out red because of the intact red blood cells in the bruise loaded with hemoglobin underneath the skin. After a few days, the red blood cells begin to break down, and shades of blue and purple appear. You may even see some shades of brown as your body breaks down the red blood cells (Jeney, 2013).
Generally after getting a hickey, the blood under the skin is dark red at first. Once it dries out, though, it turns to a darker purple or brown color, creating the marks we know and love (or hate, whatever). As your hickey begins to heal, it may take on a yellowish color, typical of most bruises.
To form a hickey, try sucking on the skin for about 20 to 30 seconds. Once you're done, the bruise can take anywhere from five to 10 minutes to appear. Of course, some people bruise easier than others, so the effect will be different depending on the person.
Are There Any Risks to Having a Hickey? A hickey shouldn't cause any real problems, but see a doctor if: The hickey doesn't go away after a couple of weeks. The bruise is very sore.
"Hickeys don't always feel good. For some people they do, for others they find it painful," Dr. Jaber says. If you do it find it painful, that could be a sign that hickeys aren't your thing.
Do hickeys hurt? If your partner gives you a hickey, the area might be a little sore for the first day or two afterward. You might also experience a tiny bit of swelling. You shouldn't have any serious pain or swelling, though.
Hickeys should be celebrated, not stigmatized. Having a mark on your neck means that you were shown love, which there isn't enough of in the world already. Many are quick to assume that you've recently had sex or that you have a controlling partner that just wanted to “leave their mark.” This is not always the case.
Try a Warm Compress and Massage
A day or so after a hickey forms, Dr. Bard recommends applying warmth to the spot, as it can boost circulation to promote healing. Chavez notes that lightly massaging the area, perhaps in conjunction with using a warm compress, can increase blood flow and help reduce clotting.
It is advised that you apply a cold compress when you first notice your hickey (and generally within 12 hours of receiving it) to aid in the reduction of inflammation. The cold will constrict the broken capillaries and reduce bleeding, allowing for bruising to be less significant.
For others it's a show of affection. Simply a regular part of a passionate kissing session. Usually the recipients are quite happy to show off to their mates that they're getting some. Although this behaviour is usually reserved for those just beginning their dating lives.
The verdict: Stop what you're doing; you might irritate the skin surrounding your hickey. As if rubbing a toothbrush on your neck didn't sound bad enough, it can have a counterproductive effect on the hickey recovery process.
Suck the skin.
Keep your teeth out of the way. You don't want them digging painfully into your partner's skin. Teeth can be used lightly to intensify the pleasure of the experience if that is what your partner desires. Break up the sucking.
Usually, neck areas are popular spots for giving a hickey, which is fine if your partner has long hair. You can also consider other spots like the crook of the elbow or the inner thigh. To give your partner a hickey, make an O with your lips and press them firmly on your partner's skin.
The neck may be the most popular spot, but you can technically give a hickey to any area of sensitive skin. For a less visible and more intimate mark, try giving her a hickey on the top of her breast or the inside of her upper thigh.
Hickeys Can Lead To A Scar
While Skotnicki says no, Gall says that, in very rare cases, a scar can be left behind or at least some sort of reminder that the hickey once occupied that spot. "Although they aren't usually permanent, on rare occasions they can be," Gall says.
A hickey, hickie or love bite in British English, is a bruise or bruise-like mark caused by kissing or sucking skin, usually on the neck, arm, or earlobe. While biting may be part of giving a hickey, sucking is sufficient to burst small superficial blood vessels under the skin.
If a guy wants to give you a hickey, it could mean that he is attracted to you and that he wants to show his affection for you in a physical way. A hickey is a mark left on the skin when someone sucks on it with their mouth, and it is often seen as a sign of passion and affection.
(It depends) Hickeys can be a fun no-risk way of showing affection if there is consent. However, hickeys (and other markings) can be controlling and abusive if there isn't consent. It's important to ask and talk about what each partner is comfortable with and to respect boundaries.