# Hickeys **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 28, 2000, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hickeys/20745 "2000-05-28T18:17:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2000, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hickeys/20745/1 "2000-05-28T18:17:37Z")
Just out of sheer curiousity, let’s say one were to acquire a blatant love bite (a hickey)on the neck from a significant other and they didn’t want it. What could they do to get rid of it? This question is coming from strictly an intellectual interest. I have long been fascinated with the biology behind hickeys and wonder by what mechanisms do they function and by what are they controlled? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2000, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hickeys/20745/2 "2000-05-28T19:46:44Z")
Probably not a lot. Hickey are cause by broke blood vessels; the blood seeps out, leaving a mark. You just have to wait for them to subside. ---
**Author:** ![olive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9c0ed/32.png) [@olive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/olive)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hickeys/20745/3 "2000-05-29T00:07:13Z")
one very good way to get rid of a hickey is to take a toothbrush(toothpaste is optional) and very roughly scrub over the hickey. This can sometimes be painful, but it works. This spreads the blood around. 🙂 hi ken ---
**Author:** ![evilbeth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/evilbeth/32/2268_2.png) [@evilbeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilbeth)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hickeys/20745/4 "2000-05-29T04:28:17Z")
All the girly-type magazines advise you to put a silver spoon in the freezer for a while and then apply the frozen spoon to the area. The spoon must be silver for this to work. I never paid much attention to _how_ this was supposed to work but the magazines say it does. Anyone have any UL debunking or the SD on this particular method? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hickeys/20745/5 "2000-05-29T06:11:08Z")
Well, doing that would chill the area, reducing blood flow there. I can see how that might help with a hickey. Of course, any old spoon, or a bag of ice, or anything else cold would do the same thing. In the meanwhile, either wear a turtleneck, or brag about it. Most people who make fun of hickeys are just jealous. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2000, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hickeys/20745/6 "2000-05-29T09:48:58Z")
A hickey is basically a bruise. Makeup will cover it, as will a bandaid. Unless it’s a whole series of hickeys forming a smiley face. Not that I’ve ever done such a thing to anyone or anything… ---
**Author:** ![Mahali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mahali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahali)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2000, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hickeys/20745/7 "2000-05-30T01:35:10Z")
Leeches! They suck the blood out and it magically disappears. Contact your local hospital and drug stores for medical leeches. Don’t think it’ll work? Ask a boxer, they use them all the time to reduce swelling and bruises. ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2000, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hickeys/20745/8 "2000-05-30T15:20:17Z")
Thanks Mahali, I don’t think I’ll be using the leech method this time. I’ll try the spoon method tonight…er…that is, next time I or someone else has this particular problem I’ll recommend the spoon method. ---
**Author:** ![olive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9c0ed/32.png) [@olive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/olive)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2000, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hickeys/20745/9 "2000-05-30T17:34:50Z")
use the leech!! use the leech!!! 🙂