How does a hickey develop?

Introduction

A hickey is simply a normal bruise or bruise. In technical terminology it is also called a hematoma. However, a hickey differs in its cause and development from conventional bruises that are acquired through a minor trauma.

Intense sucking or biting with the mouth or teeth during kissing can cause injury to the small blood vessels, causing the blood to leak from the vessels into the surrounding area and clot. Usually, a hickey develops during intensive lovemaking with a steady partner. The most common location for this is the neck and chest. Nevertheless, a hickey can develop virtually anywhere on the body.

How does a hickey develop?

If one considers the fact that a hickey is nothing more than a conventional bruise with a different history of origin, it is inevitable that the small blood vessels will be damaged and bleed into the surrounding tissue. To be more precise, sucking with the mouth creates a negative pressure which, if it persists for a somewhat longer period of time within a few seconds, can damage the small blood vessels or their barrier to the surrounding tissue. The amount of bleeding depends on the area of the damage, the suction strength and the ability of the blood to clot.

As soon as the blood leaves the small blood vessels and passes into the surrounding tissue, a stimulus occurs that causes it to clot. This causes the blood to clump together and accumulate, which can be seen as a bruise or hickey. Since the body needs some time to break down this clotted blood, the hickey can be observed for a few days.

In the case of a hickey, one person’s mouth is placed against a clothless part of another person’s body. In principle, any part of the body that can be easily and safely reached by mouth is suitable. One should make sure that the mouth is securely closed with the skin and that no air can pass through.

After that only one aspect needs to be considered: Suck with the mouth until a hickey can be observed. The time that passes until a hickey develops can nevertheless vary greatly and depend on several factors. On the one hand, a hickey occurs more quickly if you suck harder.

On the other hand, the choice of the skin area has a great influence on the time that passes until a hickey develops. This is due to the fact that in areas where the skin is particularly thin, the small blood vessels are closer to the surface and can be damaged more quickly by sucking. The neck is therefore particularly suitable for the development of a hickey.

However, the breast or the inner side of the thigh can also be considered. Less suitable, for example, is often the stomach. Also the influence of experience should not be neglected in the development of a hickey. Otherwise, a “hickey” can also be caused by a vacuum cleaner, for example, by placing the tube on a body part and starting the vacuum cleaner. However, since a hickey is usually a sign of an intimate relationship between two people, it usually occurs in a firm partnership and as a proof of love or through ignorance at a young age.