Cupping Therapy Gold Coast

What Do the Cupping Marks Mean?

At Vyne Health in Miami on the Gold Coast, we may use cupping alongside acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatment for muscular tightness, stiffness and musculoskeletal discomfort.

Cupping uses negative pressure to gently lift the skin and superficial tissues. Afterwards, marks may range from light pink to deep red or purple.

Their colour can be influenced by:

• suction strength

• how long the cups are applied

• treatment location

• skin tone

• how easily you personally mark

In Chinese medicine, practitioners may also consider the appearance of cupping marks alongside your symptoms, pulse, tongue and palpation findings, but the colour alone does not diagnose a health condition.

Most cupping marks fade within several days, although darker marks can sometimes last one to two weeks.

And no, the circles do not mean you’ve been attacked by a set of tennis balls. 🎾

Read our full outline below to better understand cupping therapy, cupping colours, the different types of cupping and what to expect after treatment.

You have probably seen someone walking around with nasty looking circular marks across their back or shoulders. No, they have not lost a fight with a tennis ball, at least, we hope not. Most likely, those circles are the temporary marks left behind after a cupping treatment.

Although the marks can look rather dramatic, cupping itself is not usually painful. Many people actually find it deeply comforting. You will generally feel a firm, tight sucking sensation, almost like the area is being hugged very enthusiastically. When the cups are released, the sensation can feel like a deep exhale as the pressure suddenly disappears.

Personally, I love cupping so much that I have trained my partner to do it for me at home. For the partners out there who are always happy to discuss how strong their arms are, yet mysteriously forget how to use those muscles whenever they are asked to give a massage, cupping may be the efficient compromise you have been looking for.

What Is Cupping?

Cupping is a traditional therapy in which cups are placed on the skin and suction is created inside them. Rather than pressing down on the muscles in the way massage does, cupping gently lifts the skin and superficial tissues upwards.

This negative pressure creates a temporary mechanical stretch through the skin and underlying tissues. Research has shown that cupping can temporarily alter local skin blood flow, although the exact biological mechanisms behind its possible effects are still being investigated [2].

There are several different cupping techniques, including:

• Stationary cupping: the cups remain in one position for a short period
• Sliding or moving cupping: oil or balm is applied to the skin, allowing the practitioner to glide the cups across an area
• Flash cupping: cups are applied and removed quickly and repeatedly, creating a gentler stimulation

A Brief History of Cupping

Cupping may have become Instagram famous after circular marks appeared on Olympic swimmers and other athletes, but it is far from a new wellness trend.

Historical descriptions of cupping have been found across a number of cultures, including ancient Chinese, Egyptian, Greek, Middle Eastern and Islamic medical traditions. While its exact place of origin is uncertain, its use has been documented for thousands of years [1].

Within Chinese medicine, cupping has traditionally been used to encourage the movement of Qi and Blood through areas considered tight, painful or stagnant. It has often been combined with acupuncture, massage, herbal medicine and other traditional therapies.

The cups themselves have also changed over time. Earlier practitioners used materials such as bamboo, animal horns, pottery or glass. Modern clinics are more likely to use glass, plastic or silicone cups.

What Types of Cups Do We Use?

In our clinic, you will usually see three types of cups: plastic cups, glass cups and silicone cups.

All three styles work by creating negative pressure and gently drawing the skin and superficial tissues upwards. The main difference is how the suction is created and how the cups are used during treatment.

Plastic Cups

Plastic cups generally connect to a small hand pump. The practitioner places the cup on the skin and uses the pump to control the amount of suction. These cups make it easy to adjust the pressure and can be particularly useful when we want a lighter, more precise or controlled treatment.

Glass Fire Cups

With glass cupping, a flame is used briefly to warm the air inside the cup. The flame is removed before the cup is placed on the body. As the air inside the cup cools and contracts, it creates suction. Despite the slightly dramatic name, the flame never touches your skin.

Silicone Cups

Silicone cups are soft and flexible. Suction is created by gently squeezing the cup before placing it on the skin.

They are commonly used for moving or sliding cupping, where a small amount of oil or balm is applied so the cup can glide smoothly across the muscles. Silicone cups allow the practitioner to easily adjust the pressure and may feel gentler than stationary plastic or glass cups.

They can be particularly useful over curved or smaller areas of the body, or when someone prefers a lighter treatment. No single type of cup is automatically "better" than another. Plastic, glass and silicone cups can all create effective suction. Your practitioner may choose between them depending on the area being treated, the technique being used, your skin sensitivity, your comfort level and the goals of your treatment.

Why Might We Use Cupping?

Cupping is commonly included in treatments when someone presents with muscular tightness, stiffness or musculoskeletal discomfort, particularly around areas such as the:

• Neck and shoulders
• Upper and lower back
• Hips and gluteal muscles
• Calves and legs

From a Chinese medicine perspective, cupping may be selected when the practitioner identifies signs of local Qi or Blood stagnation. It may also be used as part of a broader treatment aimed at helping the body relax and settle.

From a modern physiological perspective, the suction changes the mechanical load placed on the skin and superficial tissues and can temporarily increase local skin blood flow [2]. This feels quite different from massage, where pressure is directed downwards into the muscles.

Research into cupping is continuing. Some systematic reviews and clinical trials suggest that dry cupping may provide short term support for certain types of musculoskeletal pain, including neck and lower back pain [3-6]. However, the quality of the available evidence varies, and it is difficult to separate the specific effects of cupping from placebo effects, natural recovery and the other treatments with which it is often combined [3,4].

For this reason, we view cupping as a supportive treatment tool, rather than a cure or a replacement for appropriate medical investigation and care.

Does Everyone Receive Cupping?

No. Despite my personal enthusiasm for it, not every patient who walks through the clinic door is immediately covered in cups.

Cupping is selected according to your individual presentation, comfort level, medical history and treatment goals. We may decide not to use it when:

• Your skin is broken, infected, sunburnt or highly irritated
• You have active eczema, psoriasis or another inflammatory skin condition in the proposed treatment area
• You bruise or bleed very easily
• You have a bleeding disorder or take blood thinning medication
• Your skin is particularly fragile
• You have recently had an injury that requires further medical assessment
• You are pregnant and the area or technique would not be appropriate

If you have a special event coming up and would prefer not to show off your circular marks, let your practitioner know so we can adjust the treatment or avoid visible areas. Personally, though, I feel strangely proud walking around with my cupping marks, almost as though they are little wellness war wounds. Rather than hiding them, I am usually waiting for someone to ask what happened so I can enthusiastically explain how much I love cupping.

Sometimes acupuncture, gentle massage, heat therapy or another treatment method will be more appropriate. Stronger suction is not necessarily better, and leaving behind a dark mark is never the main goal of treatment.

What Do the Different Cupping Colours Mean?

Cupping marks may range from very light pink to deep red, purple or occasionally a darker brown purple colour. Some marks appear evenly coloured, while others contain tiny red or purple dots.

Although they can resemble bruises, they are expected circular skin changes created by negative pressure. Depending on the strength of the suction, small superficial blood vessels may respond by producing redness, pinpoint spots known as petechiae, or bruise like discoloration.

Research suggests that the darkness of a cupping mark is influenced significantly by the amount of negative pressure used. Treatment duration, body location, skin tone and individual skin response may also affect its appearance [7,8].

Light Pink or Red Marks

Lighter marks commonly occur after gentler suction or shorter treatment. They may disappear within a few hours or days.

Deeper Red or Purple Marks

Darker marks may occur when stronger suction is used, a cup remains in place for longer or the person's skin responds more readily to pressure. Some people mark very easily, while others barely mark at all.

What Do Cupping Colours Mean in Chinese Medicine?

From a Chinese medicine perspective, the colour and appearance of a cupping mark may provide the practitioner with an additional piece of information about the area being treated.

Darker red or purple marks are traditionally associated with more pronounced local Qi and Blood stagnation. If the person also experiences fixed pain, stiffness or symptoms that feel worse in cold weather, the practitioner may consider whether cold is contributing to the stagnation.

Brighter red marks may traditionally be interpreted as showing more heat in the area, while very pale marks or minimal colour change may sometimes be seen in people with an underlying Qi or Blood deficiency. For example, this interpretation may be considered when lighter marks occur alongside other signs such as fatigue, weakness, a pale tongue or a weak pulse.

However, the marks are only one small part of a Chinese medicine assessment. We would also consider your symptoms, medical history, tongue, pulse, palpation findings and how your body feels overall. A lighter mark does not automatically mean deficiency, just as a dark mark does not definitively prove that an area contains more stagnation.

The colour can also be affected by the strength of the suction, how long the cup remains in place, the treatment location, skin tone and how easily the individual marks [7,10]. Research has not established cupping mark colour as a reliable way of diagnosing a Chinese medicine constitution or health condition [10].

In other words, cupping marks are interesting, but they are not a mystical mood ring for your internal organs.

How Long Do Cupping Marks Last?

Cupping marks are temporary and commonly fade within several days. Darker marks may take around one to two weeks to disappear completely, although this varies between individuals [9].

Before receiving cupping, it is worth thinking about whether you have any upcoming events involving a backless dress, beach holiday, spray tan or professional photos. Cupping the day before your wedding may not be the ideal time to discover that you produce spectacular purple circles.

After treatment, the area may feel warm, loose or mildly tender. Let your practitioner know during the session if the cups feel painful, pinching, burning or excessively strong. Cupping should always be adjusted to a level you can comfortably tolerate.

You do not need to perform a special detox afterwards. Simply continue drinking your usual amount of water and avoid irritating or aggressively rubbing the freshly cupped skin.

Is Cupping Safe?

Dry cupping is generally considered low risk when it is performed appropriately by a trained practitioner using suitable hygiene and infection control procedures. The most common effects are temporary redness, circular marks and mild local tenderness.

Less commonly, excessive suction or poor technique may contribute to blistering, burns, prolonged discoloration or skin irritation. Cupping may also aggravate active eczema or psoriasis, which is why the skin should always be assessed first [9].

What Does Cupping Feel Like?

Everyone experiences cupping differently, but most people describe:

• Firm suction or pulling
• Warmth around the cups
• A stretching sensation through the skin and muscles
• A feeling of pressure without sharp pain
• Deep relaxation once they become accustomed to the sensation

For people who enjoy firm massage, cupping often becomes a favourite part of treatment. The moment the cups are released can be particularly satisfying, like taking off a very tight pair of jeans after dinner, but for your shoulders.

The Takeaway

Cupping is an ancient therapy that uses negative pressure to gently lift the skin and superficial tissues. It may be included alongside acupuncture when we are treating areas of muscular tightness, stiffness, or musculoskeletal discomfort.

While research suggests cupping may provide short term support for some pain conditions, the overall evidence remains limited and varies in quality. It should therefore be considered one possible part of an individualised treatment plan rather than a miracle cure [3,4,9].

You may leave with a few unusual looking circles, but you will also have a much better explanation ready for anyone who asks whether you have recently been attacked by a set of tennis balls.

We have outlined some Frequently asked questions, at the bottom of this page :)

Book online with practitioners that love what they do and are genuinely here for you

We are not only Acupuncturists, our Gold Coast clinic also offers womb hara massage/ fertility massage, acupuncture with combined remedial massage therapy/ relaxation massage therapy and pregnancy massage. We are practitioners who are passionate about delivering the best results.

Explore our blog articles for more interesting wellness tips, healthy recipes and ideas for wellbeing and nourishment. 

References

[1] Qureshi, N.A., Ali, G.I., Abushanab, T.S., et al. (2017). History of cupping (Hijama): A narrative review of literature. Journal of Integrative Medicine, 15(3), 172-181. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2095-4964(17)60339-X

[2] Wang, X., Zhang, X., Elliott, J., et al. (2020). Effect of pressures and durations of cupping therapy on skin blood flow responses. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 8, 608509. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2020.608509

[3] Wood, S., Fryer, G., Tan, L.L.F. & Cleary, C. (2020). Dry cupping for musculoskeletal pain and range of motion: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 24(4), 503-518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.06.024

[4] Cramer, H., Klose, P., Teut, M., et al. (2020). Cupping for patients with chronic pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Pain, 21(9-10), 943-956. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2020.01.002

[5] Saha, F.J., Schumann, S., Cramer, H., et al. (2017). The effects of cupping massage in patients with chronic neck pain: A randomised controlled trial. Complementary Medicine Research, 24(1), 26-32. https://doi.org/10.1159/000454872

[6] Mohamed, A.A., Zhang, X., Jan, Y.K., et al. (2023). Evidence-based and adverse-effects analyses of cupping therapy in musculoskeletal and sports rehabilitation: A systematic and evidence-based review. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, 36(1), 3-19. https://doi.org/10.3233/BMR-210242

[7] Zhao, X.X., Tong, B.Y., Wang, X.X., et al. (2009). Effect of time and pressure factors on the cupping mark colour. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu, 29(5), 385-388. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19489497/

[8] Asare-Baiden, M., Jordan, K., Chung, A., Sonenblum, S.E. & Ho, J.C. (2025). Impact of skin tone and cupping on erythema and thermal imaging measurements. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-24823-w

[9] National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2018). Cupping. National Institutes of Health. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/cupping

[10] Wang, Y., Han, M., Li, G., et al. (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, 1(2), 9570012. https://doi.org/10.26599/eCMTA.2025.9570012