... disgusting things?

Love bites¹ are achieved by sucking on some poor soul's neck almost hard enough to draw blood... apparently as a sign of affection.

In the wild, many animals will literally bite onto their mate. Normally this involves the male biting the female around the neck, shoulders, or upper back for better "grip" during mating. Perhaps love bites are a remnant of our animal inheritance?

Cures and Concealment

The rumour that the application of toothpaste to the wound aids recovery is a myth. You just smell of toothpaste for the remainder of the day.

One Researcher has read that an ice cube applied to the spot will cure it. It seems to make sense, since the red stuff is blood vessels up near your skin's surface, so an ice cube might make them go down. So, next time you get a chance, try it out. After all, love bites are just glorified bruises.

To hide these marks, cover the area in concealer², or wear polo necks for the duration of the affliction. This can be a couple of days or, if you are dating Dracula, several weeks.

Love Bites or Loathe Bites?

Some people enjoy love bites, but some people loathe them. Here are some Researchers' opinions:

Most of the women I've been with loved it. Some feel like they want a mark which will remind them of a guy forever.



I think that both giving and recieving them breaks the mood, complete with comedy noises when your lips dont quite maintain a seal round the flesh; just a turn off, I'm afraid.



At first I was scared of love bites. After all, my girlfriend reads Anne Rice: that would make anyone cautious.



Hickies should be a legal offence, especially those which last longer than a day.



Lovebites are so beautiful, the way they turn different rainbow colours on a girls neck and shoulders as time passes. I love both giving and receiving them: they are so erotic.

Some people (especially men?) get pride from their love bites: at least they show that you're 'getting some'. Others use love bites as a way of saying 'I love you', and they can be very pleasurable. But they can be embarassing too, especially if you get 'marked' in a visible area.

Others think of love bites almost as brands: a way of telling everyone who this person belongs to. As results from over-possessive partners go, they're perhaps less trouble than marriage and/or children!