When should you avoid cupping? Contraindications and precautions, condition by condition
Cupping with silicone cups is safe for most healthy adults, but there are conditions where you should abstain completely, conditions where you should be careful and ask your healthcare provider first, and areas of the body that should never be cupped. This page gathers everything in one place, condition by condition. It is based on Curam's FAQ and our educators' experience, and does not replace your doctor's assessment.
Abstain completely
- Infection, fever or ongoing acute illness.
- Current or suspected blood clot.
- Damaged, inflamed or sunburnt skin in the area.
- Directly on varicose veins, large superficial vessels and raised moles.
- Body cupping during pregnancy (face cupping is fine).
- Ongoing cancer treatment without your doctor's approval.
- Blood-thinning treatment without your doctor's approval.
- On children.
Condition by condition
| Condition | Why | What applies | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pregnancy | Face cupping is fine. Avoid dynamic body cupping and all cupping on the abdomen, lower back, sacrum, groin and inner thighs. Light static cupping on shoulders, calves and feet can be used in consultation with your midwife. | Consult your midwife; abstain completely with a high-risk pregnancy, high blood pressure, bleeding or clot risk. | Read more |
| Breastfeeding | Caution: light suction, short sessions, areas far from the breast. Never on the breasts. With blocked ducts: contact your midwife, do not self-treat. | Wait if you are unsure. | Read more |
| Blood-thinning medication | Cupping increases blood flow and can cause larger marks and bleeding in the skin. | Do not cup without first asking your doctor. If approved: very light suction, short time, dynamic. | Read more |
| Blood clot (current or previous) | Cupping can affect circulation in the area. | Do not cup with a current or suspected clot (sudden swelling, warmth, pain in one leg: seek care). Previous clot: ask your doctor first. | Read more |
| Varicose veins and visible superficial vessels | Cupping increases pressure in the vessels and can worsen varicose veins. | Never cup directly on varicose or spider veins. Around them, carefully, is often fine. The face cup is gentler on the legs for lymphatic massage. | Read more |
| High blood pressure and cardiovascular disease | Cupping is a strong stimulus to circulation. | Consult your doctor. If approved: light suction, short sessions, avoid neck and chest. | Read more |
| Diabetes | Reduced sensation and poorer wound healing, especially in feet and lower legs, increase the risk of injuries you do not notice. | Consult your doctor. Do not cup feet and lower legs with reduced sensation. Check the skin afterwards. | Read more |
| Infection, fever, ongoing illness | The body should not be loaded with increased circulation during infection. | Wait until you are well. | Read more |
| Damaged skin: wounds, eczema flare, psoriasis, sunburn, rash | The skin cannot tolerate vacuum and can be damaged or infected. | Do not cup the area. Around it is often fine when the skin is intact. | Read more |
| Rosacea | Increased vessel formation that reacts strongly to stimulation. | Avoid during flare-ups. With mild rosacea: test very carefully with the mini cup, never on inflamed areas. Neck and chest for lymphatic flow are usually fine. | Read more |
| Acne (active, inflamed) | Risk of spreading bacteria and scarring. | Do not cup over active spots. Other areas of the face are fine. | Read more |
| Botox | Cupping can move the toxin before it has settled. | Wait about two weeks after treatment. Ask your practitioner. | Read more |
| Fillers | Pressure and movement can affect the placement of the filler. | Wait about four weeks after treatment. Ask your practitioner. | Read more |
| Fresh scars and surgery | Scar tissue needs to heal before it is loaded. | Do not cup the scar in the first 6–8 weeks, and not until the wound has healed completely and stitches are out. Then start with the face cup for light suction. | Read more |
| Rheumatism | With inflamed, swollen joints cupping can irritate. | With mild rheumatism: test carefully with light suction on the muscles, not on swollen joints. During flare-ups: abstain. | Read more |
| Osteoarthritis | Cupping can relieve muscle tension around the joint. | Lighter suction, not directly on painful areas. Weak hands: choose the mini cup or static cups, which are easier to squeeze. | Read more |
| Lipoedema | Sensitive tissue that bruises easily. | Light suction, start carefully, avoid long static cupping in the same place. | Read more |
| Lymphoedema and previous lymph node surgery | Lymphatic flow is altered and requires special technique. | Consult a lymphatic therapist or doctor before cupping the affected area. | Read more |
| Cancer treatment | Ongoing treatment affects skin, blood and the immune system. | Do not cup during ongoing treatment without your doctor's approval. | Read more |
| Epilepsy, pacemaker, serious illness | Unclear state of knowledge. | Consult your doctor. | Read more |
| Children | Children's skin and tissue are more sensitive, and cupping has not been studied in children. | We do not recommend cupping on children. Teenagers: light suction, with an adult, and never when ill. | Read more |
| Older people and thin skin | Thinner skin and more fragile vessels mark and blister more easily. | Light suction, short time, keep the cup moving. Mini cup or face cup are gentler. | Read more |
| Areas that are always avoided | The front of the neck, directly on the spine, groin, armpits, genitals, lower abdomen, eyelids, raised moles, directly on the kneecap and back of the knee. | Work on the muscles around them instead. | Read more |
Areas that are never cupped
The front of the neck (carotid arteries, thyroid), directly on the spine, groin, armpits, genitals, lower abdomen, eyelids, raised moles, directly on the kneecap and in the back of the knee. The face cups, with their much lighter suction, may be used on the whole face and on the neck with light pressure, but not on the eyelids.
Signs that you should stop, or seek care
- Pain that increases during cupping, radiates or is felt in a joint.
- Dizziness, nausea or faintness: stop, lie down, drink water.
- Numbness, tingling or weakness after cupping over the neck or back: contact your healthcare provider.
- Marks that are very swollen, warm and tender, or that have not started to fade after ten days.
- Blisters that break with signs of infection.
How to cup safely
- Start with light suction and short times. Increase only once the skin is used to it.
- Keep the cup moving in dynamic cupping, and keep static cups on for a few minutes at most in the first weeks.
- Use body cups only on the body and face cups on the face.
- Drink water before and after.
- Ask your healthcare provider if you are unsure. It costs nothing and makes cupping safer.
The basics of the method are in What is cupping? The complete guide, side effects and marks in Cupping: pros and cons, side effects and marks, and all questions in our FAQ.
Frequently asked questions
When should you not do cupping?
With infection and fever, on damaged or inflamed skin, directly on varicose veins, with a current blood clot, during pregnancy on the body, during ongoing cancer treatment, and on blood thinners without your doctor's advice. With cardiovascular disease, diabetes, rheumatism and other conditions: consult your doctor first.
Can you do cupping while pregnant?
Face cupping is fine. Dynamic body cupping and all cupping on the abdomen, lower back and inner thighs must be avoided. Light static cupping on shoulders, calves and feet can be used in consultation with your midwife.
Can you cup if you take blood thinners?
Not without asking your doctor. Cupping increases blood flow in the skin and can cause larger marks and bleeding.
How long after Botox and fillers can you cup the face?
About two weeks after Botox and about four weeks after fillers. Ask your practitioner.
Where on the body should you never cup?
The front of the neck, directly on the spine, groin, armpits, genitals, lower abdomen, eyelids, raised moles and directly on the kneecap and back of the knee.
What do I do if I got blisters from cupping?
Do not pierce them, keep clean and let heal. Blisters almost always come from static cupping that was too long or suction that was too strong. Shorten the time next time. With signs of infection, seek care.
Last updated 16 October 2026. The information is general and does not replace medical care. Consult a doctor, midwife or other healthcare professional in case of illness, pregnancy or medication.