Love bites seem like the harmless and playful proof of a steamy night, but in some rare cases, they’ve been linked to serious health issues like blood clots and strokes. If it sounds dramatic, it kind of is. While these risks are incredibly uncommon, they’re not impossible. Here is a breakdown of the science behind hickeys, when they become dangerous and what you should look out for.
Can Hickeys Cause Blood Clots?
Should You Avoid Hickeys
What Other Adverse Health Effects Can Hickeys Cause?
How to Prevent a Hickey
When Can Hickeys Be Dangerous
How To Treat Hickeys Fast
Are Love Bites Dangerous
FAQs About Hickeys
TL;DR Can Hickeys Cause Blood Clots
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 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.
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.
Minor neck trauma, including deep tissue suction can, in rare cases, lead to carotid artery dissection, a leading cause of stroke in young adults. This further supports the idea that while hickeys are usually harmless, they’re not entirely risk-free.
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 a 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.
There’s also concern over “venous air embolism” if a hickey or suction occurs over a damaged vein, though this is exceedingly rare. More commonly, excessive suction can cause nerve compression in the neck, leading to temporary numbness or tingling in nearby areas.
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.
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.
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.
Spot treat with arnica gel or lotion: It’s believed to have anti-inflammatory effects, which can improve bruising.
Dab them with Vitamin K gel or cream: Apply a gel or cream to the bruised area twice a day.
Conceal with makeup: Although they don’t improve the marks, using a thick concealer over the treatment gel or cream can help hide the hickey, 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.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/cKe7jF4ltZY
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.
FAQs About Hickeys
Are hickeys dangerous?
Not usually. For most people, hickeys are harmless bruises. However, in rare cases, they can lead to complications like blood clots, particularly if you have underlying health risks such as heart disease, high blood pressure or clotting disorders.
Are hickeys on your breast dangerous?
Hickeys on the breast are generally not dangerous unless they are very rough or repeated frequently. However, breast tissue is sensitive and excessive suction or biting can cause bruising or broken capillaries If you notice pain, swelling or changes in skin texture, consult a doctor.
Can hickeys cause blood clots?
Yes, though it’s extremely rare. Hickeys can damage blood vessels and, in very uncommon cases, result in a clot that travels to the brain or lungs. Those with risk factors should avoid deep suction near major veins, especially in the neck area.
When should I be worried about a hickey?
You should be concerned if:
This bruise is unusually painful.
It forms lumps or swells.
It lasts longer than two weeks.
You have unexplained bruising elsewhere.
You experience neurological symptoms like weakness or slurred speech.
Can a hickey leave a permanent mark?
Yes, especially if the skin is broken or the suction was intense. While most hickeys fade within 10-14 days, they can occasionally leave hyperpigmentation or scarring, especially in people with sensitive or fair skin.
TL;DR: Can Hickeys Cause Blood Clots?
Hickeys can cause blood clots, but it’s extremely rare. In isolated cases, a hickey has led to a stroke when the clot traveled to the brain. While the risk is low, those with preexisting conditions like blood clotting disorders, high blood pressure or heart disease should be cautious, especially if the hickey is on the neck. Hickeys can also spread oral herpes and potentially leave permanent scars. If a hickey becomes painful, doesn’t fade in two weeks, or is accompanied by other unusual symptoms, seek medical attention.
Original Publish Date: August 1, 2019 — Updated May 15, 2025
