A hickey, kiss mark, love bite, or bug bite is a bruise or bruise like mark caused by the kissing or suckling of the skin, usually on the neck or arm. While biting might be part of giving a hickey, suckling is sufficient to burst small superficial blood vessels under the skin.
Hickeys typically last from five to twelve days and may be treated in the same way as other bruises. Ways to reduce the appearance of hickeys include icing recent hickeys to reduce swelling, rubbing them with a chilled spoon to break up blood clots, and applying a warm compress to older hickeys to dilate vessels and promote blood flow. They can be covered with powder or fake tan. Alternatively, articles of clothing such as scarves, snoods, turtle necks, or sleeves may be used to conceal hickeys.
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