A hickey, often called a love bite, is essentially a superficial bruise resulting from forceful suction on the skin. This action ruptures tiny blood vessels just beneath the surface, known as capillaries. Since these marks are visible and can last for over a week, many people seek quick, at-home methods to make them disappear faster. The spoon technique is one popular remedy that attempts to physically manipulate the mark. This article details the specific steps of the spoon method and provides context on realistic healing expectations.
What a Hickey Really Is
A hickey is classified as a hematoma, which is the medical term for a localized collection of blood outside of blood vessels. The suction applied to the skin creates negative pressure strong enough to damage the delicate walls of the capillaries. When these vessels break, blood leaks out and pools in the surrounding soft tissue, creating the characteristic red or purple discoloration.
This trapped blood is slowly broken down by the body in a process called reabsorption. As the body metabolizes the iron-rich hemoglobin, the bruise naturally changes color. It transitions from a deep reddish-purple to shades of blue and green, and finally to a faint yellow before fading completely. This physiological process explains why no method offers instant removal, as the body requires time to process the blood.
Step-by-Step Guide to the Spoon Technique
The principle behind the spoon technique is to use physical pressure and cold to either constrict the blood vessels or disperse the collected blood. To begin, place a metal spoon in the freezer for about 10 to 20 minutes to chill it thoroughly. The cold temperature helps to slow or stop further internal bleeding by causing the capillaries to constrict.
Once the spoon is chilled, the scraping motion is used to try and physically push the pooled blood away from the center of the mark. First, pull the skin taut around the hickey to stretch the area. Then, use the convex back or the rim of the cold spoon to firmly press and scrape outward from the center of the discoloration.
This firm, outward motion should be repeated for several minutes, aiming to mechanically disperse the concentrated blood into the surrounding tissue. You may need to swap the spoon for a freshly chilled one if it warms up significantly. Use firm pressure, but avoid pressing so hard that you cause additional skin damage or fresh bruising.
Realistic Alternatives and Timelines
The most effective treatments for a bruise depend on the time elapsed since the injury occurred. Immediately after the suction, applying cold compression, like an ice pack or the chilled spoon, is beneficial for the first 48 hours. The cold constricts the blood vessels, which limits the amount of blood leaking into the tissue and minimizes the overall size of the bruise.
After the initial 48-hour period, applying gentle heat and massage becomes the recommended approach. A warm compress or heating pad encourages increased blood flow to the area. This boosted circulation helps the body break down and reabsorb the pooled blood faster.
Massaging the area gently with your fingers or a warm compress can aid in the dispersal of the blood pigment. Topical creams containing Arnica or Vitamin K are sometimes used, as they are thought to support capillary repair and tissue healing. Despite these methods, a hickey typically takes between 5 to 12 days to heal completely, since the body’s natural reabsorption process cannot be instantly accelerated.