Heath & Wellness

Is Drinking Water Before Bed and in the Morning an 8 Effective Way to Reduce Hickies Quickly?

Hickies—or “love bites”—are small bruises when blood vessels under the skin break from suction or pressure. Naturally, if you wake up with a hickey, you’ll want it gone as fast as possible. A popular internet suggestion claims drinking water before bed and after waking up can help speed up hickey healing. But how effective is this method?

Let’s break it down based on science, not just hearsay.

How Hickies Form

To understand how to treat a hickey, it’s important first to know what it is. A hickey forms when tiny blood vessels (capillaries) are damaged and blood leaks into the surrounding tissues. Your body needs time to reabsorb this blood like it heals a regular bruise.

Healing time for a hickey typically ranges from 5 to 12 days, depending on:

The severity of the bruise
Blood circulation
Overall skin health
Hydration levels

The Role of Hydration in Healing Bruises

Water is crucial for your body’s repair processes. Staying hydrated:

Improves blood circulation
Helps remove waste and toxins
Supports cell repair and skin health

Drinking plenty of water may help your body clear the trapped blood under your skin faster, potentially leading to quicker hickey healing.

However, drinking much water before and after waking up alone won’t magically erase a hickey overnight. Consistent hydration throughout the day is far more effective.

Drinking Water: Before Bed vs. Throughout the Day

TimingEffectivenessNotes

It is moderately helpful before bed. It can support overnight healing, but it is not a miracle cure.

Morning Good habit: Rehydrates body after sleep, aids circulation.

All Day Long Most effective Constant hydration speeds up overall skin repair.

Key takeaway:

Drinking water before bed and in the morning can slightly support the healing process, but the secret lies in staying hydrated all day.

Other Effective Methods to Reduce Hickies Quickly

While hydration helps your skin heal faster, you’ll likely need additional methods to reduce the visibility of a hickey quickly:

Cold Compress (First 24 Hours): Applying ice helps reduce swelling and constricts blood vessels to minimize bleeding under the skin.
Warm Compress (After 24 Hours): Heat boosts blood flow to help clear the trapped blood.
Massage Gently: Lightly massaging the area can encourage blood flow and break down the clot.
Aloe Vera Gel: Anti-inflammatory properties can soothe the skin and promote healing.
Vitamin K Cream: Known to help with blood clotting and reducing bruising.
Concealer: While you wait for it to heal, a green-tinted concealer can help neutralize the hickey’s color.

Myths You Should Ignore

There’s a lot of misinformation online. Here’s what does not work:

“Hickey removal” toothpaste trick: May irritate skin further.
Brushing aggressively with a toothbrush Can worsen the bruise.
Penny rubbing or scraping: Causes skin damage without speeding up healing.

Always be gentle with the affected area!

Final Verdict: Can Drinking Water Help Heal a Hickey Faster?

✅ Yes, but with limits.

Drinking water before bed and in the morning can support your body’s natural healing process. It helps keep your blood flowing and your tissues healthy, which may slightly speed up the disappearance of a hickey.

However, hydration alone isn’t enough. For the best results, combine good hydration with other proven methods—like cold compresses, warm treatments, and gentle massage.

Best practice:

Stay hydrated consistently, not just at bedtime or in the morning. Add simple home remedies, and be patient—your body knows how to heal itself if you support it properly.

Quick Action Plan to Heal Hickies Faster

Drink at least eight glasses of water per day.
Apply a cold compress in the first 24 hours.
Switch to a warm compress after 24 hours.
Gently massage the area once it’s not tender.
Use natural remedies like aloe vera or vitamin K cream.

How to Get Rid of Hickies Fast: 8 Proven Tips and Tricks

If you’ve ever ended up with a surprise hickey before an important event, job interview, or family gathering, you know the panic. Hickeys — those small, bruise-like marks left behind after passionate moments — are nothing to be embarrassed about, but sometimes you need them gone — and fast.

In this guide, we’ll provide 8 proven tips and tricks for quickly getting rid of hickeys using trusted methods. Let’s dive in!

What Is a Hickey?

Before we jump into remedies, let’s understand what a hickey is.

A hickey happens when small blood vessels (capillaries) under your skin break due to suction. Blood leaks into the surrounding tissue, causing a red, purple, or dark bruise. Hickeys typically last between 5–12 days, depending on your skin type and how much blood leaked.

The good news? With the right strategies, you can speed up the healing process significantly.

1. Apply Cold Therapy Immediately

Best for: First 0–6 hours

As soon as you notice a hickey forming, grab something cold.

Use a cold spoon: Chill a metal spoon in the freezer and gently press it against the hickey.
Or use ice wrapped in a cloth: Never apply ice directly to the skin as it can cause damage.

Why it works:

Cold temperatures reduce blood flow by constricting blood vessels, helping minimize bruising and swelling.

🔔 Pro Tip: Apply cold for 10 minutes, rest for 20 minutes, and repeat for the first few hours.

2. Gently Massage the Area

Best for: 6–24 hours later

After the initial swelling has gone down, gentle massage can help disperse the pooled blood.

Use two fingers to massage the hickey in small, circular motions.
Work from the center outward to “push” the blood away.

Why it works:

Massage stimulates circulation, encouraging the body to reabsorb the blood faster.

🚨 Caution: Don’t press too hard. Aggressive rubbing can worsen the bruise.

3. Switch to Warm Compresses

Best for: After 24 hours

Once the hickey has “set,” you want to increase blood flow to speed up Healing.

Soak a cloth in warm water.
Apply it to the area for 10 minutes several times a day.

Why it works:

Heat expands blood vessels, helping the body clear out trapped blood cells faster.

🌡 Reminder: Keep the compress warm, not hot, to avoid skin damage.

4. Use a Toothbrush Technique (Gently!)

A soft-bristle toothbrush can stimulate the area and break up the clot.

Lightly “brush” the hickey in different directions for about 5–10 minutes.
Follow up with a cold compress to soothe irritation.

Why it works:

The brushing technique boosts blood flow and helps the body reabsorb blood more quickly.

🎯 Important: Use a clean, soft brush — and be gentle.

5. Try Natural Remedies

Nature has some healing superheroes! Here are three effective remedies:

Aloe Vera

Apply pure aloe vera gel directly to the hickey.
Let it absorb fully.
Repeat 2–3 times daily.

Benefit:

Aloe Vera is anti-inflammatory and soothes skin irritation.

Vitamin K Cream

Dab a little vitamin K cream onto the hickey.
Gently rub it in.

Benefit:

Vitamin K helps your body reabsorb blood faster, promoting quicker bruise healing.

Arnica Gel

Apply arnica cream or gel to the hickey.
Reapply 2–3 times a day.

Benefit:

Arnica is a natural remedy used to treat bruises and speed skin recovery.

6. Hide It With Smart Makeup Techniques

While waiting for your skin to heal, concealer can be your best friend.

Start with a green-tinted concealer to neutralize redness.
Layer with a concealer matching your skin tone.
Blend well and set with a light powder.

💄 Pro Tip: Use a color-correcting palette if you have one!

7. Boost Healing from the Inside Out

Supporting your body’s natural healing process can make a huge difference.

Stay hydrated: Water flushes out toxins and helps repair tissues.
For collagen production, eat Vitamin C-rich foods (like oranges, strawberries, and broccoli).
Get enough rest: Sleep is when your body focuses on repair.

🍊 Fun Fact: Vitamin C plays a direct role in repairing broken blood vessels!

8. Give It Time (But Keep Helping!)

Even with all these strategies, remember that Healing takes time.

Most hickeys naturally fade within a week.
With active care, reduce that to just a few days.

Being patient — while boosting Healing through smart methods — is the ultimate trick.

Conclusion:

Drinking water before bed and in the morning can help—but it’s not a magic solution. Combine hydration with smart, gentle care for faster, healthier healing.

Final Thoughts

Hickeys might feel like a huge deal when you first spot them, but you can dramatically minimize their appearance with quick action and the right techniques.

To recap, the best plan for fast Healing is: