Hickeys are common skin marks, often a result of affectionate interactions, that can prompt questions about their potential health impacts. The visible discoloration they cause sometimes leads to concerns about more serious underlying conditions, such as the formation of blood clots. This discussion aims to provide a scientific perspective on hickeys and their connection, or lack thereof, to dangerous blood clots.
Understanding What a Hickey Is
A hickey is essentially a type of bruise. It forms when sustained suction or biting on the skin causes tiny blood vessels, called capillaries, to break. When these superficial vessels rupture, blood leaks out and pools just beneath the skin’s surface, resulting in the characteristic red, purple, or sometimes bluish discoloration. The appearance of a hickey changes over several days as the body naturally reabsorbs the leaked blood, much like any other bruise healing process. Hickeys are generally considered superficial injuries, affecting only the skin’s uppermost layers.
The Science of Blood Clot Formation
Blood clot formation, or hemostasis, is a bodily process designed to stop bleeding after an injury. It begins with the constriction of the injured blood vessel to reduce blood flow. Platelets then rush to the site of injury and stick together to form a temporary plug. Following this, a cascade of clotting factors activates to form fibrin strands. These fibrin strands create a mesh that reinforces the platelet plug, forming a stable blood clot.
While hemostasis is beneficial for wound healing, blood clots can also form inappropriately within intact blood vessels, a condition known as thrombosis. These problematic clots can impede blood flow. Clots can occur in superficial or deep veins. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) involves clots forming in the larger veins. A portion of these deep clots can break off and travel through the bloodstream, potentially reaching the lungs and causing a pulmonary embolism (PE).
Do Hickeys Cause Blood Clots?
Hickeys do not result in dangerous blood clots. Hickeys are superficial bruises that involve the rupture of capillaries. The blood that leaks out remains localized under the skin and does not enter the circulatory system in a way that would trigger a systemic clotting event. The body’s natural healing mechanisms are well-equipped to manage this localized pooling of blood, gradually breaking it down and reabsorbing it.
Problematic blood clots, such as those associated with deep vein thrombosis, form under different circumstances. These clots usually develop in larger veins due to factors like sluggish blood flow, injury to the blood vessel wall, or an increased tendency for blood to clot, often linked to underlying medical conditions. While isolated, extremely rare case reports have suggested a hickey could potentially contribute to a blood clot leading to a stroke, this would typically involve significant and unusual trauma to a major artery, such as the carotid artery in the neck. Such an occurrence is considered highly unlikely and would require a level of force far beyond what is normally associated with giving a hickey. For most individuals, the localized, minor trauma of a hickey does not pose a risk for forming serious blood clots.
Recognizing Serious Symptoms
Given the concerns surrounding blood clots, it is important to recognize the symptoms of serious conditions like deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), regardless of any connection to hickeys. Symptoms of DVT most commonly affect one leg, presenting as throbbing pain, swelling, warmth, or redness in the calf or thigh. The skin around the affected area might also appear discolored, and veins near the skin’s surface could become noticeably larger.
A pulmonary embolism, which occurs if a DVT dislodges and travels to the lungs, requires immediate medical attention. Common symptoms include sudden shortness of breath, which may worsen with activity, and chest pain that can intensify with deep breathing or coughing. Other signs can involve a rapid heartbeat, dizziness, lightheadedness, or even fainting. Recognizing these symptoms and seeking prompt medical evaluation is important for effective treatment and management of serious blood clot conditions.