A hickey, kiss mark, love bite, slag tag, or bug bite is a bruise or bruise like mark caused by the kissing or sucking of the skin, usually on the neck or arm. While biting might be part of giving a hickey, sucking is sufficient to burst superficial small blood vessels under the skin.
Hickeys typically last from five to twelve days and may be treated in the same way as other bruises. Ways to reduce the appearance of hickeys include icing recent hickeys to reduce swelling, rubbing them with a chilled spoon to break up blood clots, and applying a warm compress to older hickeys to dilate vessels and promote blood flow. They can be covered with foundation, powder or concealer. Alternatively, articles of clothing such as scarves, turtle necks, or sleeves may be used to conceal hickeys. The creation of a new hickey can be made easier or more effective by the use of either alcohol or aspirin by the person receiving the hickey.