This is so frustrating. How I'm supposed to have lunch with my mother -in-law with this? My friend asked me last weekend, referring to the very visible purple bruise on her neck.

The thing about a hickey, also known as a 'love bite' is that it's a paradox. A private moment turned public.

The mark is a product of consensual moments shared by passionate people, and should not be a thing of shame.

A love bite appears due to broken blood vessels under the surface of your skin, especially on the softer parts like the neck, chest and shoulders.

This is caused by at least 30 seconds of targeted sucking on a spot and it should not be a cause for worry.

If you have been in my friend's shoes and you want to learn how to get rid of your hickey, here are a few tips.

Use an icepack or a freezer spoon

Hickeys can last up to two weeks, depending on the intensity.

On the first day, you should place an ice pack wrapped in a cotton-made cloth or a freezer spoon on the mark.

Keep the frozen material on the hickey for 10 minutes and in between breaks, continue with the process for a day.

It helps minimize the blood from seeping into the skin, causing a bruise.

Use a warm compressor

This method should only be used after 48 hours of the hickey formation.

You can use a warm towel or a bottle of warm water.

It is meant to help speed up blood flow in the area.

Use Aloe Vera

Apply aloe Vera lotion on the bruise to help heal the broken vessels.

One can also use lotion or oils rich in vitamins E and C.

Vitamin C helps boosts the production of skin collagen, which results in faster healing.

Eat a fresh pineapple

The bromelain enzyme found in pineapple juice helps with bruising, swelling and blood clotting.

Use a banana peel to massage the hickey

Banana peels have skin-soothing vitamins which help bruises heal faster.

Gently rub it over your love bite.

Cover up

If you just realised you have a love bite and you need to conceal it, you can use a color corrector with a concealer matching your skin or use a scarf.

Remember to be fashion-conscious. Use prints or colors that match your outfit of the day.

My friend ended up using a scarf.

You have to be patient with the above tips. Your hickey will not heal overnight.

It can heal in a day or a week, again, depending on its intensity.