How to Spot a Hickey (8 Telltale Signs)

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

An oddly-shaped bruise or mark on someone's neck might make you suspicious. Hickeys, or small bruises caused by sucking on the skin, are pretty distinct, and they usually happen during private, intimate moments. If you aren’t sure about what you’re seeing, read through these identifiers to see if it really is a hickey (or if it might just be a bruise).

1

Size

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b0\/Identify-a-Hickey-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Identify-a-Hickey-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b0\/Identify-a-Hickey-Step-1.jpg\/v4-728px-Identify-a-Hickey-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    While they can range in size, many are fairly small, and they’re usually less than 1 in (2.5 cm) wide. If the mark is way larger than a normal mouth size, it’s probably just a regular bruise. [1]
    • Look out for hickeys in a cluster. If you see a huge mark on someone, it could be a couple different hickeys next to each other.
    2. Advertisement
2

Shape

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/65\/Identify-a-Hickey-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Identify-a-Hickey-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/65\/Identify-a-Hickey-Step-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Identify-a-Hickey-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It’s probably pretty easy to tell that they were made by a puckered mouth. However, burns from a curling iron or straightener are usually the same shape, so there are a few different possibilities. [2]
    • If the mark is in a perfect circle with nothing in the center, it’s probably a rash called ringworm, not a hickey.
3

Color

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a5\/Identify-a-Hickey-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Identify-a-Hickey-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a5\/Identify-a-Hickey-Step-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Identify-a-Hickey-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Hickeys are bruises, so they’re usually bruise-colored. They can be red, dark red, purple, or dark purple on your skin. The color you’re seeing is the broken blood vessels underneath your skin that come to the surface. [3]
    • Regular bruises sometimes change colors as they heal, but hickeys generally stay the same color as they fade.
    • If you’re trying to cover up a hickey, green color-correcting concealer is a great base layer. It will cancel out the reds and purples and make it easier to cover up.
    2. Advertisement
4

Location

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/42\/Identify-a-Hickey-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Identify-a-Hickey-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/42\/Identify-a-Hickey-Step-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Identify-a-Hickey-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Most hickeys happen on the exposed skin above the collarbone. Those areas are kind of hard to bruise by accident, so a hickey is usually the culprit. [4]
    • People with hickeys usually cover them up by wearing scarves or turtlenecks. If the person you’re suspicious of is suddenly wearing a lot of neckwear, they might be hiding something.
5

Activity

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/65\/Identify-a-Hickey-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Identify-a-Hickey-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/65\/Identify-a-Hickey-Step-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Identify-a-Hickey-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If you know the person recently went on a date, there’s a good chance that it really is a love bite on their neck. If, however, they just got back from hockey practice, it might just be a normal bruise. [5]
    • Hickeys don’t necessarily have to happen during sex—they can happen during kissing and making out, too. If your teenager comes home with a hickey, try not to jump to any conclusions.
    2. Advertisement
6

Timeline

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6c\/Identify-a-Hickey-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Identify-a-Hickey-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6c\/Identify-a-Hickey-Step-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Identify-a-Hickey-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Hickeys are bruises, and bruises take time to fade. Depending on the size of the hickey, it might take up to 2 weeks to fade completely from the skin. You’ll notice it getting lighter and smaller as time goes on. [6]
    • If the hickey doesn’t fade at all within 2 weeks, something might be wrong. Make an appointment just to be sure.
7

Temperature

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e8\/Identify-a-Hickey-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Identify-a-Hickey-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e8\/Identify-a-Hickey-Step-7.jpg\/v4-728px-Identify-a-Hickey-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If you notice that your friend or kid is using a lot of ice packs lately, they might be trying to fade their hickey faster. However, cold only helps so much, and the hickey will probably still be pretty noticeable. [7]
    • Another trick is to put a spoon in the freezer and hold it against a hickey to make it fade. If you notice a lot of your spoons are ending up frozen, it could be a clue as to what’s going on.
    2. Advertisement
8

Age

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/cf\/Identify-a-Hickey-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Identify-a-Hickey-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/cf\/Identify-a-Hickey-Step-8.jpg\/v4-728px-Identify-a-Hickey-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    That’s not to say older adults can’t give and receive hickeys; however, they’re usually better about being discreet and covering them up. It’s much more likely that you’ll spot a hickey on your teenage child than your grandmother. [8]

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      French Kiss
      How to
      Kiss
      How to
      Give Someone a Hickey
      How to
      Make Out
      How to
      Kiss a Girl
      What Does a Neck Kiss Mean? (Plus, Other Types of Kisses)
      How to
      Kiss Passionately
      How to
      Use Your Hands During a Kiss
      How to
      Butterfly Kiss
      How to
      Turn a Guy on While Making Out
      How to
      Kiss Your Boyfriend to Make Him Crazy
      How to
      Practice Kissing
      How to
      Know if He Enjoyed the Kiss
      How to
      Give a Girl a Hickey
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://goaskalice.columbia.edu/answered-questions/quick-hickey-fix
      2. ↑ https://www.teenvogue.com/story/everything-you-need-to-know-about-hickeys
      3. ↑ https://www.seventeen.com/life/a29005054/how-to-give-a-hickey/
      4. ↑ https://www.teenvogue.com/story/everything-you-need-to-know-about-hickeys
      5. ↑ https://goaskalice.columbia.edu/answered-questions/quick-hickey-fix
      6. ↑ https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/bruises.html
      7. ↑ https://goaskalice.columbia.edu/answered-questions/quick-hickey-fix
      8. ↑ https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18991487

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 122,484 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement