A hickey, or love bite, is a visible bruise that sometimes appears on the skin after passionate kissing.
While some people wear hickeys as badges of honor, others may find them embarrassing or difficult to explain.
Whether you’re dealing with curious coworkers, strict parents, or even a suspicious boyfriend or girlfriend, we will share with you a huge list of ideas to help you deal with these tricky conversations.
There are several reasons why you might need an excuse for a hickey:
Work
A visible hickey could be seen as unprofessional and may even lead to uncomfortable questions from your boss or colleagues.
In this case, having a plausible excuse can help save face and maintain your professional image.
Parents
Even as adults, many people try to keep their romantic lives private from their parents.
A hickey may reveal more about your personal life than you’d like, leading to awkward conversations or unwanted advice.
A well-crafted excuse can help you avoid these uncomfortable discussions.
Girlfriend/Boyfriend
If you’re in a committed relationship and receive a hickey from someone other than your partner, it can lead to a lot of suspicions.
Of course, before we dive into the best excuses for hickeys, it’s important to remember that honesty is always the best policy.
However, we understand that sometimes, things happen, and you may find yourself in need of a quick and believable explanation.
Keep in mind that confidence and a straight face are key if you want people to believe your excuse.
The more relaxed you appear, the more likely people are to accept your explanation without question.
However, be prepared for follow-up questions and have your answers ready to keep your story consistent and plausible.
While having an excuse can help you navigate tricky conversations, you may also want to take steps to get rid of the hickey as quickly as possible.
Some effective methods include applying a cold compress, massaging the area, using over-the-counter creams or lotions designed to reduce bruising, or covering the hickey with makeup.
Now that we’ve covered the basics let’s move on to the fun part – the best excuses for hickeys.
From bug bites to curling iron mishaps, we will share with you a bunch of explanations that will satisfy even the most skeptical interrogator.
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Good Excuses for Hickeys
1. Allergic reaction
A good excuse for a hickey is an allergic reaction to a new skin or hair product. This can explain the redness and inflammation of your skin.
2. Bug bite
A bug bite, especially a mosquito or spider bite, can cause similar marks as hickeys. Just make sure to complain about how itchy and annoying the bite is!
3. Curling iron
Just say you accidentally touched your neck while styling your hair.
4. Vacuum cleaner accident
You got too close to the vacuum cleaner hose and it sucked onto your neck, leaving a mark that looks suspiciously like a hickey.
5. Paintball bruise
You can always blame the hickey on a paintball bruise. The impact of the paintball can leave a mark very similar to a hickey.
6. Accidental scratch from your pet
A cat, dog, or other pet can accidentally leave marks on your skin that look like hickeys.
7. Cupping therapy
You can say that you tried cupping therapy, which involves using suction cups on the skin to increase blood flow, and sometimes leaves circular marks.
8. Sports injury
If you’re an athlete, blame the hickey-like mark on an injury sustained during a game or practice.
9. Seatbelt friction burn
You can blame the mark on your seatbelt rubbing against your neck during a sudden stop at a red light.
10. Sunburn
If you spent some time outdoors, you could say that the mark is actually sunburn peeling off in a weird pattern.
11. A new skincare treatment
Tell people you tried a new skincare treatment that left a temporary mark but is supposed to have amazing results.
12. A makeup mishap
You can say you experimented with a new product that stained your skin and created the appearance of a hickey.
13. A clothing mishap
Say that you tried on a costume or clothing that left a mark on your neck because of the very tight fit.
14. Accidental bump into a corner or edge
Claim that you accidentally bumped into a corner or edge and it left a bruise on your neck.
15. Playing with children
Say that while playing with your younger siblings, cousins, or friends’ children, they accidentally grabbed your neck too tightly, leaving a mark.
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16. A barber mishap
Tell people that the barber accidentally nicked you while cutting your hair, leaving a small bruise behind.
17. Hanger accident
Tell that while trying to hang up clothes, you accidentally hit yourself in the neck with the hanger, leaving a bruise.
18. A temporary tattoo gone wrong
Say that you tried to apply a temporary tattoo and it didn’t turn out as expected, leaving an odd mark behind.
19. A prank by friends
Blame your friends for playing a prank on you by sticking something cold or hot on your neck, creating a hickey-looking mark.
20. Popped blood vessel
Say that you popped a blood vessel in your neck from straining too hard or coughing.
21. Collar chafing
Blame the mark on the chafing caused by a collar or necklace rubbing against your skin.
22. Food allergy
Excuse the hickey as a reaction to a food allergy that caused your skin to temporarily break out.
23. Falling asleep on a pen
Say that you accidentally fell asleep with a pen lodged against your neck, leaving a mark.
24. Sleeping on your hand
Say that you slept on your hand in an awkward position, causing pressure on your neck and leaving a mark.
25. A new laundry detergent
Tell people that you recently switched laundry detergents, and the new one caused an allergic reaction in your neck.
26. Trying a new hair dye
Say that a hair dye reaction left a temporary mark on your neck.
27. You hit the furniture
Say that you accidentally walked into a piece of furniture and it left a bruise on your neck.
28. Ice pack burn
You accidentally burned your skin by applying an ice pack directly to your neck for too long.
29. An oddly-shaped pimple
Tell people that the mark is just an oddly-shaped pimple or blemish.
30. A cosplay mishap
Say that you were trying out a cosplay outfit and it left a mark on your neck.
31. A hiccup while drinking from a straw
Say that you had a sudden hiccup while drinking from a straw which caused the suction to leave a mark on your neck.
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32. A minor bike accident
Tell people that you got into a minor bike accident where the handlebars hit your neck, leaving a bruise.
33. Receiving first aid treatment
Say you received first aid treatment and the medical tape left marks on your neck.
34. Accidentally pinching yourself with tweezers
Tell people that you accidentally pinched yourself with tweezers while grooming, leaving a mark.
35. Rough towel drying
Blame the mark on rough towel drying after taking a shower, which left your skin irritated.
36. A new perfume or cologne
A new perfume or cologne caused an allergic reaction that left a mark on your neck.
37. A random mark that appeared overnight
Tell people that you woke up with the mark and have no idea what caused it.
38. A suction toy stuck on your neck
Blame the mark on a suction toy, like a suction cup arrow, getting stuck to your neck during a game.
39. A new workout routine
Say that the mark is the result of trying out a new workout routine that involves placing pressure on your neck.
40. Wearing heavy headphones
You wore heavy headphones for an extended period, causing the mark on your neck.
41. A wrestling match gone wrong
Say that while wrestling with friends or siblings, someone accidentally left a bruise on your neck.
42. Using a new pillow
Tell people that you changed pillows and the new one irritated your skin, leaving a mark.
43. A reaction to chlorine in a swimming pool
The chlorine in a swimming pool caused a skin reaction, leaving a temporary mark on your neck.
44. A bee sting
Say that you were stung by a bee, and the swelling and redness created a hickey-like mark.
45. Experimenting with body art
Tell people that you experimented with body art and accidentally left a hickey-like mark on your neck.
46. Elastic band snapping on your neck
Say an elastic band snapped against your neck, leaving a bruise similar to a hickey.
47. Sitting too close to a heater
Say that you accidentally leaned against a hot heater, causing a burn that looks like a hickey.
48. An intense workout
Say that you strained your neck muscles and got a mark because of an intense workout.
49. A sudden sneeze or cough
A sudden sneeze or cough caused the blood vessels in your neck to break, leaving a bruise.
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50. A magic trick gone wrong
Tell people that you were practicing a magic trick and accidentally left a mark on your neck.
51. Trying a new massage technique
You tried a new massage technique that involved suction, leaving a hickey-like mark.
52. A new dental procedure
Say that you recently had dental work done and the suction device left a mark.
53. A reaction to sunscreen
The sunscreen you applied caused an allergic reaction, leaving a temporary mark.
54. Wearing tight swimming goggles
Blame the mark on wearing tight goggles while swimming, causing pressure on your skin.
55. Doing yoga or stretching exercises
Say that during yoga or stretching exercises, you accidentally put too much pressure on your neck, causing a bruise.
56. Using a new shower scrub
Say that using a new shower scrub irritated your skin and left a mark.
57. A makeup tutorial gone wrong
Claim that you were following a makeup tutorial that involved contouring your neck, but it left a hickey-like mark instead.
58. A sudden itch
Tell people that you had a sudden, intense itch on your neck and scratched too hard, leaving a mark.
59. A medical condition
Say that the mark is a side effect of a medical condition like eczema or dermatitis.
60. A rash from wearing a scarf
Blame the hickey-like mark on skin irritation caused by the fabric rubbing against your neck.
61. A jellyfish sting
Use a jellyfish sting as an excuse for the hickey-like mark on your neck.
62. Accidental scrape from a zipper
Blame the hickey-like mark on your skin on your coat zipper accidentally scraping against your neck.
63. Reaction to a bug spray
Blame the hickey on an allergic reaction to the bug spray that you applied when you went for a stroll in a park.
64. Hot glue gun accident
Tell others that you accidentally burned your neck with hot glue while working on a DIY project.
65. Swelling from dental work
Your recent dental work caused swelling in your face and neck area, leading to the appearance of a hickey-like mark.
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