Do Hickeys Cause Cancer Myth Or Reality

Ed Bradley

less than a minute read

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28-03-2025

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The internet is awash with health myths, and the claim that hickeys cause cancer is a particularly persistent one. Let's delve into the science and separate fact from fiction.

Understanding Hickeys

A hickey, or love bite, is a bruise caused by sucking or vigorous kissing on the skin. The force breaks tiny blood vessels under the skin's surface, resulting in the characteristic discoloration. This discoloration is due to blood leaking into the surrounding tissue, not a cancerous growth.

The Cancer Connection: A Lack of Evidence

There's no scientific evidence whatsoever linking hickeys to cancer. Cancer is a complex disease stemming from uncontrolled cell growth. The mechanism of a hickey—simple trauma to blood vessels—is completely unrelated to the genetic and cellular processes that drive cancer development. The discoloration of a hickey is temporary and resolves on its own as the body reabsorbs the leaked blood.

Why This Myth Persists

The persistence of this myth likely stems from a misunderstanding of the body's healing processes. Any injury, even a minor one like a hickey, triggers an inflammatory response. This response might involve some cellular activity that, to the uninformed, might be mistakenly interpreted as cancerous activity. However, this is a fundamental misconception. The inflammatory response to a hickey is a normal, self-limiting process entirely different from the uncontrolled cell growth characteristic of cancer.

Other Potential Risks of Hickeys

While hickeys themselves don't cause cancer, they can present other minor risks. These include:

• Pain and discomfort: The bruised area can be tender and painful for a few days.
• Discoloration: The discoloration can be noticeable and last for several days or even weeks.
• Infection: In rare cases, if the skin is broken, a hickey can become infected. Proper hygiene is crucial to prevent this.

Conclusion

The notion that hickeys cause cancer is unequivocally false. There is no credible scientific basis for this claim. While hickeys might cause temporary discomfort and discoloration, they pose no threat of cancer development. Reliable health information should always be sourced from reputable medical professionals and organizations, not unsubstantiated online claims.