When you stop to think about it, phrases like, “I love you so much, I’m going to eat you up,” and biting someone’s neck so hard it draws blood, are a little strange. Still, despite the frank oddity of the practice, many of us have worn a physical reminder of our time between the sheets on our necks. But the recent death of a Mexican teenager raises the specter of love bites possibly posing more danger than anyone knows. Can hickeys cause blood clots, strokes and more? It may happen rarely — but it does happen.

Can Hickeys Cause Blood Clots?

When it comes to answering the question of, “can hickeys cause blood clots,” the answer is yes. Yes, the chances of such an event occurring are very slim. However, when your life’s on the line, is it worth risking it for physical evidence you got lucky the night before?

As one recent headline shares, 17-year-old Julio Macias Gonzalez received a hickey from his girlfriend. The hickey caused a clot that traveled to his brain where it caused a fatal stroke. He went into convulsions over dinner and later died.

This isn’t the only reported case of a hickey causing such a complication. In 2010, a 44-year-old New Zealand woman experienced weakness in an arm following a hickey. Fortunately, in her case, she recovered fully after seeking medical care, but her doctor, who treated her with blood thinners, diagnosed her with stroke.

Should You Avoid Hickeys?

For many, the occasional hickey likely poses little risk. However, for those already at risk of stroke disorder, such as people with migraine disease, especially certain rare variants, the overweight and those at risk for heart disease do well to avoid these tokens of physical love. Even though the risk nevertheless remains slim, the effects of stroke can be life-altering even if not immediately fatal.

Women should take care to avoid hickeys while pregnant, especially if they already experience high blood pressure related to their condition. Additionally, those at risk for certain disorders like deep vein thrombosis also do well to pass on overly rough foreplay, which can lead to potential clots, especially if they have an upcoming flight. The clots can block the veins of the legs during a flight due to pressure changes and lack of physical movement.

What Other Adverse Health Effects Can Hickeys Cause?

Hickeys are minor injuries to the blood vessels, which is part of the circulatory system. Your circulatory system consists of your heart, arteries, veins and capillaries, and is responsible for carrying nourishment and oxygen to all the cells of our body, including, of course, our brains.

Hickeys and bruises occur through similar mechanisms — both consist of broken capillaries near the skin’s surface — so it’s tempting to think of hickeys as no more harmful than bumping your knee accidentally. In some ways, this is true — however, the difference in the mechanism may increase risk. Additionally, as many hickeys occur on the neck, where veins are closer to the surface, more serious injuries can occur.

Indeed the proximity of surface veins is a good reason for those with other risks of heart disease to pass on neck biting. Women who are overweight or have diabetes do well to pass on this type of play, as are post-menopausal women whose thinner skin increases the injury risk.

In addition to increased stroke risk, getting a hickey can mean getting a comorbid diagnosis of herpes. Hickeys can spread oral herpes if broken blood vessels come into contact with the herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1). Ask your partner to not give you a hickey if they have a cold sore to avoid transmission.

Finally, while this is a cosmetic concern more than a health one, hickeys can leave scars, particularly if the teeth were involved. In general, those with very fair skin are most at risk for scarring, although anyone can. Staying hydrated can help ease the duration of the hickey somewhat, but no topical ointment can eliminate scarring.

How To Prevent a Hickey?

Sometimes, you get so lost in the sensations that it’s hard to notice if your partner spends so much time in one area. Communication before intimacy is perhaps the most effective way to prevent love bites if you’re worried about the health downsides. Alternatively, request your partner to be more gentle. Suggest another spot if they’re too focused on kissing one area. 

When Can Hickeys Be Dangerous?

While hickeys cause blood clots, they rarely cause serious problems. However, if you notice these signs, you should visit your doctor for a checkup.

• The bruise is excessively sore.
• You feel a lump over the bruise.
• The mark doesn’t go away after two weeks.
• You see unusual bruises in other areas and don’t know their cause.

Hickeys often last for 14 days. From bright red on the first day, they turn blueish after a few days. Between 5-10 days, they lighten into yellow or green until your skin recovers to normal after two weeks. If your hickeys worsen or don’t get better after this period, see a doctor for further recommendations.

How To Treat Hickeys Fast?

Love marks stay visible on your skin for several days. Here are home remedies to get rid of them fast.

1. Apply a cold spoon or ice: After they form, soothe pain and reduce inflammation with ice or a cold spoon. Wrap them in a cloth before touching the skin.
2. Moisturize the skin with aloe vera, banana or cocoa butter: These natural remedies hydrate, soothe and moisturize the area to improve the appearance of love bites. 
3. Spot treat with arnica gel or lotion: It’s believed to have anti-inflammatory effects, which can improve bruising.
4. Dab them with Vitamin K gel or cream: Apply a gel or cream to the bruised area twice a day.
5. Conceal with makeup:  Although they don’t improve the marks, using a thick concealer over the treatment gel or cream can help hide the hickeys, especially if they’re in awkward spots.

Are Love Bites Dangerous?

It would be disingenuous to suggest getting a hickey constitutes a high-risk behavior. While yes, oral herpes can be transmitted via this method, people become infected through kissing their dear old Aunt Edna when she has a cold sore, too. And while the risk of stroke from a clot does exist — apparently even among the very young and healthy — with only two recent incidents, it’s safe to say the risks remain low.

Can hickeys cause blood clots? Yes, but it’s unlikely. Still, when it comes to health, proceeding with caution makes for best practice. Those at an elevated risk do well to avoid rough neck foreplay, and those who find themselves thinking twice after learning the risks may find the prospect less appealing now. There are a million and one ways to get your freak on without bloodletting becoming a part of the play.

Original Publish Date: August 1, 2019 — Updated October 1, 2024