Hickeys, also called love bites, are often seen as a harmless sign of affection. They appear as reddish-purple marks on the skin and are caused by suction that bursts tiny blood vessels beneath the surface. Most people expect them to fade within a week or two, and in the vast majority of cases, they do. However, medical research and case reports show that hickeys are not entirely without risk. Understanding what science says can help people be informed and avoid rare but serious complications.
The visible mark of a hickey is technically a bruise or minor hematoma. A hematoma occurs when blood leaks from broken capillaries into surrounding tissue. In most cases, these hematomas are small and harmless, healing naturally as the body reabsorbs the blood. Some hickeys may be slightly painful or tender, and the discoloration can last for days, but there is typically no long-term health impact.
That said, there are rare instances where a hickey can pose more serious risks. Case reports published in medical journals have documented instances of blood clots forming in veins of the neck after intense suction during a hickey. While extremely uncommon, these clots—known as venous thromboses—can travel to critical areas, potentially causing a stroke or pulmonary embolism. These severe outcomes tend to occur in individuals with pre-existing conditions that affect blood clotting, such as clotting disorders, vascular fragility, or patients taking blood thinners. Therefore, even though the likelihood is very low, a hickey on the neck or near major blood vessels can theoretically be dangerous.
