How many hickeys

Before long, you have a nasty looking yellow-brown spot that eventually fades completely, like any other bruise. Sure, they might be unsightly or sore after the fact, but in the heat of the moment, a hickey can also feel pretty damn good. But how are hickeys dangerous, exactly? The appearance of a hickey may not be the biggest concern for you, as the trauma they can cause , though rare, is not always superficial.

Here are six things you may not know about hickeys. Although they require much more effort to get than, say, walking into a coffee table or face-planting it on the sidewalk, hickeys really are just bruises.

In some cases, hickeys are intentional bruises , as either a way of "marking" one's territory or because of certain types of sexual play that both partners agree to. Other times, hickeys happen by accident, like when a make out sesh gets a little too heated. Sandy Skotnicki , M. According to Skotnicki, people with thinner or more sensitive skin also end up with hickeys much easier than others, especially if their partner is sucking hard.

This also means that blood pools closer to the surface , which can make the hickey look even more dramatic. We've all been there, left to wonder what is a hickey, anyway? How long will it last? And how do I get rid of it? The truth is, hickeys are really no big deal. Nothing feels more right in the moment, but walking through the next few days with it displayed on your neck can be surreal.

Suddenly, your private life becomes public. This is not the only report of a love bite apparently causing a blood clot and stroke.

In , the New Zealand Medical Journal described the case of a year-old woman who experienced weakness in her arm several days after getting a hickey. She recovered after being treated with blood thinners. Clots that form in the deep veins of your legs, arms or torso can become lodged in the lungs, a dangerous situation called pulmonary embolism. Apply a good amount of vitamin K cream to your hickey as needed to reduce the appearance of the bruise.

You could also take vitamin K supplements or eat vitamin K-rich foods to further boost production. Try leafy greens or brown rice. Check out: 11 outside-the-box ways to eat kale ». The inside of a banana peel is rich with vitamins and nutrients that can help reduce the appearance of a bruise. Rub the inside of a peel from a ripe banana on your hickey for up to 30 minutes or until the peel turns brown. Repeat this technique at least twice per day until your hickey has faded.

Vitamin C is essential to keeping your skin healthy and smooth. In fact, vitamin C may even strengthen the skin tissue around your blood vessels, which could help heal your hickey. Apply a vitamin C-enriched cream to the affected area daily. Eating more citrus and plant-based foods may also be beneficial.

Cocoa butter, a fat derived from cocoa beans, is a staple in many skin care regimens — and with good reason. Cocoa butter has been shown to smooth scars, stretch marks, wrinkles, and other skin marks.

Check out: Everything you need to know about cocoa butter ». The aloe vera plant has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce skin swelling and pain. To treat a hickey, apply a thin layer of aloe vera gel or cream to the bruise at least twice per day. Learn more: 7 amazing uses for aloe vera ».

Topical and oral arnica are widely available over the counter at most pharmacies. Using arnica can help speed up the healing of the bruise from a hickey. Learn more about arnica and healing ». In the meantime, covering the hickey up is your best bet.