If you are here on holiday, this is usually the practical question behind it: will there be round purple circles on my back in the beach photos for the next week. The honest answer is yes, most likely, and they fade in 3 a 7 days on average.
Why the mark appears, and why it is not an ordinary bruise
A bruise from a knock comes from an impact that breaks vessels from the outside in. With cupping it is the other way round: the cup creates a vacuum over the skin and draws blood and fluid up to the surface at that point. In Chinese medicine, which guides my work, the technique is used to move circulation in regions where tension has collected. The mark that stays is that reaching the surface.
Why the mark is darker on some people
The colour and the intensity vary from person to person, and from one region to another on the same body. Points with more accumulated tension tend to mark more strongly; the same cup, on a point without tension, can leave almost nothing. Paler skin also makes the mark more visible, without that meaning anything went wrong in the session.
How long the mark lasts
3 a 7 days on average, depending on how sensitive your skin is. They fade gradually, day after day, until they are gone; darker marks usually take longer than light ones. If you have a wedding, a shoot or a beach day coming up, tell me before we book and we can plan around it.