What do dark cupping marks indicate? How long do cupping marks last? (2024)

Why cupping marks appearafter a cupping therapy

After cupping, redness or dark colorsgenerally appears, which arethe so-called cupping marks. The colors of these marks are different, which indicates one’s physical condition to some extent.Traditional Chinese medicinebelieves that the dark cupping marks means thatmore toxins are removed out. However, from the perspective of modern medicine, the color of the cupping mark can only indicate the degree of capillary ruptureand capillary bleeding under the skin. Therefore, some therapists argue that darker cupping marks should not be simply explained by too much toxins accumulated in our body. During cupping, negative pressure causesthe skin and subcutaneous tissue to be squeezedinto acup, and this force causesthe blood vessels to be broken, which forms the cupping marks. The more rupture, the more bleeding, and therefore redness or bruises will appear at thecupping areas.

It is true that the rupture of capillaries can speed up the excretion of toxins, but it is not that more is better. Moderate darkness of cuppingmarksappeared after cupping therapyindicatesthe activation of the immune system, and play an effect in inflammatory reduction and pain relief. However, serious dark cupping marks (purple or black) along with cupping bruisesaccompanied by pain meansexcessivecapillary rupturewhich may play a counterproductive effectand will harm the body. In that case, you should decrease the cupping time or the negative pressure level.

How long do cupping marks last and how to make them going away faster

Some people do not care those marks from cupping. Famous swimmer Michael Phelpsoften takes those marks to participate in competitions, and he has mentioned many times in interviews that he is keen on cupping therapy, while there are people who do not like cupping marks to be displayed in public.

So, do cupping marks go away?The answer is definitely yes. Normally marks from cupping will disappear or become very weak in one week, sometimes it may last longer, depends on individuals. If marks are on the back area, then no one will see them when we dressed, so there is no need to mind them at all. However, if marks are left after neck or leg cupping, it sometimes attracts people’s attention. So, how to get rid of cupping marks fast?

1. Hot compress

After cupping, applying hot compresswith a towel can promote the patency of blood circulation, which accelerates the absorption of congestion so that speed up the fading of cupping therapy marks.

2. Massage with essential oils

Massage plays a similar role in congestion absorptionwhich helps the cupping marks to fade away. It is important to get a gentle massageespecially after cupping, because the skin at bruised areas is more vulnerable.Mixing essential oils with base oils as a massage medium can avoid skin abrasions and better control the massage intensity. In addition, the essential oils itself can also promote the recovery process.

3. Red light therapy

Red light therapy (RLT) uses low-level wavelength red light to irradiate skin. Infrared rays can easily pass through the skin and cause thermal reactions to muscles and subcutaneous tissues, and therefore it plays a good role in inflammation reductionand local metabolism acceleration. RLTcan also be a good aid in healing cupping bruises. However, anyway we should prevent excessive cupping, which may cause serious bruises with pain and even suppuration after cupping. Nowadays, Some electriccupping machinescombine RLT with cupping therapytogether, aiming at increasing the effectiveness of the treatment and also making the marks less dark after cupping therapy.

4. Bathing with hot water

Whensometimes there is no condition for you to apply the above treatments, then simply taking a shower with hot water can be also effective to a certain extent.A hot water bathingtemporarily increasesthe temperature on body surface and promote the blood circulation of the entire body, thereby speeding up the removal of congestion andthereforereducing the darkness of cupping therapy marks. But please aware that your pores will be fully opened after bathing, plus the body’s defense system after cupping has not completely recovered, at themoment, you must pay attention to keep warm to avoid coldness coming in.