The round marks cupping leaves behind look dramatic, but they are not bruises. A bruise comes from impact damage to blood vessels; cupping marks come from suction drawing stagnant blood and fluid up towards the surface, where the body clears it away.
What the colour tells us
Pale pink marks that fade in a day suggest good circulation. Darker, purple marks that linger for a week point to long-standing stagnation — usually in the areas that feel tightest.
Aftercare
Keep the area covered and warm, drink plenty of water and skip hot baths for the rest of the day. The marks are painless and fade within three to seven days.
