Cupping Marks: What They Are and What They Do Not Show

What the marks are

A forensic report describes cupping as able to produce purplish skin discolorations caused by superficial capillary rupture from localized negative pressure. [2] In its case, an autopsy of a man who had recently had cupping found multiple circular purplish discolorations on the upper back that first raised suspicion of blunt trauma; dissection showed no hemorrhage in the fat or muscle beneath them. [2] That is a single case report, so it shows that the marks can be superficial, not how all cupping marks behave.

A laboratory study of a 3-minute suction cup on the forearm found increased blood-vessel measurements in the cupped area, which fits suction acting on the skin's small vessels. [3] It was done in 16 healthy young adults and did not examine marks directly.

Marks versus injury

Some cupping goes beyond ordinary marks. NCCIH lists persistent skin discoloration, scars, burns and infections as possible side effects, and says cupping may worsen eczema or psoriasis. [1] A case report described a man with multiple blisters within circular cupping marks, with petechiae (tiny red dots) and ecchymosis (bruising); the blisters healed over several weeks with sterile dressings and left no visible scars, and the authors linked the blistering to an air-pressure change during a plane descent. [4] If you have blisters, burns, broken skin, increasing pain, or signs of infection, get the area checked by a clinician.

Do the color and pattern mean anything?

Some practitioners and websites say that darker marks show "toxins", "stagnation" or the state of the body. We searched PubMed for studies on cupping marks, histology and bruising and found case reports and mechanism studies, but nothing showing that mark color measures illness or removal of toxins. Proper evidence not found. A review of modern theories listed a "blood detoxification" theory among six suggested ideas and concluded that no single theory explains cupping's effects and that further research is needed. [5] Treat color claims as traditional or marketing claims, not as medical findings. For the traditional framework, see Qi, Yin and Yang, Five Phases and Meridians as Traditional Concepts.

Marks and suspected abuse

Marks that resemble bruises can raise concern about injury. NCCIH's advice is to explain the origin of the marks to health care providers. [1] The forensic report likewise concludes that recognizing cultural practices such as cupping is important so that they are not wrongly read as trauma. [2] If you or your child has had cupping, say so when you see another clinician, and say when and where. That is not an admission of anything wrong; it is context. If you are worried about a mark that you cannot explain, or about someone's safety, seek medical advice. In the United States, call 911 in an emergency.

Asking for lighter treatment

If you do not want visible marks, for an event or work, say so before the session. We did not find a source that explains how marking can be reduced, so we make no claim about it. Wet cupping pierces the skin and carries bloodborne risks; see Dry, Fire and Wet Cupping and Hijama.

Related

For the full guide to the practice, see Cupping Therapy. For other injury risks, see Moxibustion and Cupping Risks, and for a related technique that also marks the skin, see Gua Sha.