Look out for hickeys in a cluster. If you see a huge mark on someone, it could be a couple different hickeys next to each other.
If the mark is in a perfect circle with nothing in the center, it’s probably a rash called ringworm, not a hickey.
Regular bruises sometimes change colors as they heal, but hickeys generally stay the same color as they fade. If you’re trying to cover up a hickey, green color-correcting concealer is a great base layer. It will cancel out the reds and purples and make it easier to cover up.
People with hickeys usually cover them up by wearing scarves or turtlenecks. If the person you’re suspicious of is suddenly wearing a lot of neckwear, they might be hiding something.
Hickeys don’t necessarily have to happen during sex—they can happen during kissing and making out, too. If your teenager comes home with a hickey, try not to jump to any conclusions.
If the hickey doesn’t fade at all within 2 weeks, something might be wrong. Make an appointment just to be sure.
Another trick is to put a spoon in the freezer and hold it against a hickey to make it fade. If you notice a lot of your spoons are ending up frozen, it could be a clue as to what’s going on.
