Did you just notice a hickey on your neck? If yes, you are likely wondering how you are going to get rid of it. Since hickeys take a couple of days to clear up, people use everything from concealers to bandaid to cover their hickeys. Some people use clothing accessories and their hair to make their hickeys less visible.
If you aren’t at home and can’t get your hands on make-up or a scarf to cover your neck, you may become frustrated and even become anxious about what people will say when they see your hickeys.
Well, it may surprise you to know that you get rid of your hickey with only a toothbrush.
In this article, we are going to be looking at how to use a bamboo toothbrush or a plastic toothbrush to get rid of a hickey. Before we dive right into that, we are first going to look at what a hickey is and how long it takes to heal on its own.
What is a hickey
Hickeys are popularly known as love bite and kiss marks.
Health experts refer to hickeys are temporary bruises. They appear when someone nibbles your neck or any other part of your body. The pressure exerted on the area damages the veins that are there and cause the blood in the area to clot.
If you see a hickey on your partner’s neck, you may think it is painful, as it is red and slightly swollen. But that isn’t the case. You see, hickeys aren’t very painful and don’t cause serious discomfort.
As a hickey slowly heals, everything from its appearance to its size is going to change. The change occurs as the body absorbs the clotted blood.
How long does it take a hickey to go its own
Regardless of the size of your hickey, you are definitely going to wonder how long it will take for it to heal. On average, it may take between 1 to 2 weeks for it to disappear completely. Keep in mind that factors like the seriousness of a hickey and the health condition of the person with the hickey can the healing time.
Waiting for your hickey to clear up on its own won’t be an option for you, especially If you have a white collar or an office job. As you likely know, it is unethical for you to showcase your hickey at work. So you have to cover or get rid of it as quickly as possible.
How to use a toothbrush to get rid of hickeys fast
Getting rid of a hickey isn’t as difficult as you think. All you need is a regular or a bamboo toothbrush. Make sure that the toothbrush you choose has a soft bristle so that it doesn’t injure or irritate the affected area.
Materials needed
- A soft-bristled toothbrush
Direction
- Get a new or used toothbrush with soft bristles.
- Gently use the toothbrush to rub the affected area in a circular motion. Rub the hickey for five to ten minutes.
- Apply a lotion or moisturizer to the affected area
You may feel a tingling sensation after you apply lotion to the concerned area but you shouldn’t be worried. The discomfort you are experiencing will go away on its own after a short while.
Your hickey will become less visible after carrying out the above steps. If you want your hickey to become even less visible or heal totally, you should repeat the process twice daily for five to seven days.
Note
- Don’t use a toothbrush with a hard bristle as it will irritate the affected area.
- Even if you are using a soft-bristled toothbrush you shouldn’t exert too much pressure on the affected area.
Alternative ways to get rid of hickeys fast
Toothpaste or peppermint oil
If you can’t get your hands on a soft toothbrush you should apply toothpaste or peppermint oil to the affected area. You see, peppermint oil and mint toothpaste can increase blood circulation. Granted, toothpaste and peppermint oil are both effective, but it is wise that you only use one.
Since peppermint oil is highly concentrated, it will work better than toothpaste. However, if you can’t get your hands on peppermint oil, you should use toothpaste as an alternative.
Here is how to use toothpaste or peppermint oil to treat a hickey.
- Carefully apply the peppermint oil or toothpaste to the affected area (you may experience a tingling sensation)
- Use a clean damp cloth to remove the excess toothpaste or oil
- Repeat the process twice daily
Note
Peppermint oil and toothpaste can cause serious irritation when they are used often.
Final note
There you have it, the steps to getting rid of a hickey with a toothbrush, toothpaste, and peppermint oil. If you follow the tips listed above, you can be confident that your hickey will heal quickly.