Cupping Marks Explained: What They Are and How Long They Last

Have you ever looked in the mirror after a cupping session and wondered, "What exactly are these circles, and how long will they stay?" You are not alone. The round marks are the thing people ask us about most. In this post we look at what reputable health sources and published studies actually say about them, in plain language, without the hype.

What the marks actually are

During cupping, a cup creates suction on the skin. That suction pulls the skin and the tissue just under it upward. Cleveland Clinic explains that the suction "breaks open tiny blood vessels called capillaries under your skin," which is what leaves the coloured circle behind (Source 1).

A 2025 forensic case report in the journal Cureus describes it in similar terms. The negative pressure causes small, surface-level capillaries to rupture and draws blood into the upper layers of the skin. The authors noted that cupping marks tend to be round, evenly sized and close to the surface. Impact bruises, by contrast, are often irregular in shape and involve deeper tissue (Source 3).

So are cupping marks bruises? It depends on who you ask. Cleveland Clinic says the marks "will look like bruises" but are "not true bruises that injure muscle fibers" (Source 1). In everyday terms, it is fair to think of them as a surface-level skin mark caused by suction, not by a blow.

How long they last and why colour varies

Most people see marks that range from a faint pink to a deeper red or purple. According to Cleveland Clinic, the marks "should fade in a week or two" (Source 1). The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) also describes them as "temporary marks on the skin" (Source 2). Everyone is different, so your own marks may fade a little faster or slower.

Why does one person get light pink circles while another gets dark ones? Research points to a few practical factors:

Suction strength and time. A 2021 study in the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine measured skin colour under different suction levels. Redness rose as suction increased up to a point, and a measure of skin pigment kept rising as suction got stronger (Source 5). In short, stronger or longer cupping can mean a more visible mark.
The individual. A 2025 cross-sectional study of 200 adults found that men tended to have darker marks than women. People with fibromyalgia had lighter marks than healthy volunteers. Age and body mass index were not linked to colour (Source 4).

Does the colour reveal "toxins" or "stagnation"?

You may have seen charts online claiming that a dark mark means "toxins," "stagnation" or a hidden health problem. It is an appealing idea, but there is no good evidence for it.

The same 2025 study tested one version of this belief directly. It asked whether mark colour matched a person's traditional Chinese medicine "constitution type." The authors found no correlation between the two (Source 4). They also pointed out that their study was small and that larger studies are needed.

A 2018 review in the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine describes several theories about how cupping might work, including the idea that it releases toxins. The authors present these as theories and say more research is needed to verify them (Source 6). Cleveland Clinic also notes that "some people think" cupping releases toxins and describes the evidence on cupping overall as "mixed" (Source 1). NCCIH adds that most cupping research so far is of low quality (Source 2).

Our honest take is that a mark's colour mostly tells you about suction, time and your own skin. It is not a diagnosis, and we will never tell you otherwise.

When to talk with your doctor

Cupping marks are usually harmless and temporary. Still, published sources list some side effects worth knowing about. NCCIH notes that cupping can cause persistent skin discoloration, scars, burns and infections (Source 2). Cleveland Clinic lists burns from heated cups, skin infections, itching and scarring among possible side effects (Source 1).

Talk with your doctor if you notice:

Blisters, or a mark that looks like a burn
Signs of skin infection, such as spreading redness, tenderness, warmth or yellow discharge (Source 1)
A fever after your session (Source 1)
Severe pain or soreness that seems out of proportion (Source 1)
Marks that are not fading after a couple of weeks

One more practical tip from NCCIH: let your other health care providers know you have had cupping. That way the marks are not mistaken for something else (Source 2).

Gentle aftercare for comfort

You do not need anything fancy to care for your skin after cupping. These are simple, everyday comfort habits:

Keep the area clean. Wash gently with mild soap and water, and pat dry.
Wear loose, soft clothing. This avoids rubbing on the marked skin.
Leave the marks alone. Try not to scratch, scrub or pick at the area.
Follow our 24-hour guidance. For 24 hours after your session, skip exercise and animal products.
Ask if you are unsure. If anything about your skin worries you, talk with your doctor.

Have questions about what to expect from your own session? We are happy to talk it through. M.K Holistic Clinic is at 2009 Lawrence Ave W in Etobicoke, Toronto, and we are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Book at mkholisticclinic.schedulista.com or call 416-710-2033.

Sources

Cupping Therapy: Definition, Types & Benefits — Cleveland Clinic, 2023
Cupping — National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), 2018
Circular Skin Lesions Mimicking Blunt Trauma: A Forensic Case of Cupping Therapy — Cureus, 2025
Cupping mark color and its association with TCM constitution and health status: findings from a cross-sectional study — Evidence-Based Chinese Medicine and Technology Assessment, 2025
Optimal intensity and duration of cupping for minimizing possible mechanical skin deformation — Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2021
The medical perspective of cupping therapy: Effects and mechanisms of action — Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 2018