Yes, a vacuum can create a hickey-like mark by causing suction on the skin, leading to bruising or broken capillaries, similar to traditional hickeys.
Many people wonder if a vacuum cleaner can give you a hickey. The short answer is no, but there’s more to the story. While a vacuum can create temporary marks on your skin, it’s not the same as a real hickey caused by human contact.
What Happens When You Use a Vacuum on Your Skin?
When you place a vacuum hose against your skin, the suction can cause:
- Temporary redness
- Broken capillaries
- Minor bruising
- Swelling in some cases
These effects might resemble a hickey at first glance, but they’re actually different. A real hickey is caused by someone sucking on your skin hard enough to break small blood vessels underneath. The vacuum creates similar-looking marks through mechanical suction rather than the biological response of a true hickey.
Why People Try This Strange Experiment
Many attempt this for various reasons:
- To fake having been intimate
- As a prank or joke
- Simple curiosity about what will happen
One user on FML shared: “Today, I put the vacuum cleaner hose against my neck to give me a hickey, so that it would look like I got some action.” This shows how common this strange experiment can be.
The Dangers of Using a Vacuum on Skin
While it might seem harmless, using a vacuum on your skin can cause real problems:
| Risk | Description |
|---|---|
| Bruising | Can last longer than a normal hickey |
| Broken blood vessels | May leave permanent marks |
| Skin damage | Could lead to scarring in extreme cases |
Pore Vacuum Experience
Similar issues occur with facial pore vacuums. One user reported: “I gave myself a forehead hickey… it truly did not fade for about four days.” This shows how even specialized vacuum tools can cause skin damage when misused.
For proper skin care, consider safe cleaning practices rather than risky experiments.
How to Spot a Fake Vacuum Hickey
Real hickeys and vacuum marks differ in several ways:
- Shape: Vacuum marks are often perfectly round
- Color: More uniform than a real hickey’s gradient
- Location: Often in spots hard to reach with lips
One FML user shared their partner’s unconvincing excuse: “He thinks ‘The vacuum did it’ is a believable excuse.” Most people can tell the difference.
Better Alternatives
Instead of risky vacuum experiments, consider:
- Using makeup to create realistic-looking marks
- Simply being honest about your situation
- Focusing on real connections rather than appearances
For those interested in proper cleaning tools, learn about vacuum attachments that are meant for actual cleaning purposes.
Medical Perspective on Vacuum Suction
Dermatologists warn against using household vacuums on skin. The suction is too strong and unpredictable. Professional tools like pore vacuums are designed differently, but even these can cause problems if used incorrectly.
As one pore vacuum user discovered: “Even on the lowest setting, you can’t really set the vacuum on your face for more than a second because you will inevitably draw all the blood to the top of your skin.”
For safe cleaning of your home instead of your skin, check out proper cleaning techniques from health experts.
Final Thoughts
While a vacuum can create marks that resemble hickeys, they’re not the same. The risks outweigh any potential benefits. Instead of playing with vacuums, focus on proper cleaning techniques for your home and natural ways to care for your skin.