Yes, a love bite, also known as a hickey, is real.
A love bite is a visible mark on the skin caused by intense suction, usually from sucking or biting. The following table summarizes key aspects:
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Definition | A dark red or purple mark on the skin resulting from suction. |
| Cause | Intense suction breaks small blood vessels under the skin. |
| Appearance | Dark red or purple, similar to a bruise. |
| Common Sites | The neck is a common area, but love bites can occur anywhere on the body. |
What Causes Love Bites?
The process involves applying intense suction to the skin:
- The pressure from suction ruptures tiny blood vessels (capillaries) beneath the skin's surface.
- The blood leaks into the surrounding tissue, causing the characteristic discoloration.
- This discoloration is what we see as a hickey or love bite.
Why are Love Bites Red or Purple?
Love bites are typically red or purple for the same reason bruises are these colors. Blood that has leaked from the damaged capillaries appears as red initially then changes to purple or blue as the blood breaks down and is reabsorbed by the body. The color gradually changes to green or yellow as the healing process continues.
Summary
Love bites are indeed a real physical mark caused by the physical act of suction on the skin leading to the rupturing of small blood vessels.
