Bruising from Acupuncture: What You Should Know

Finding a bruise acupuncture mark following a treatment is sometimes worrying. You naturally wonder if this is normal and what it could mean. Mild bruising after an acupuncture treatment is generally not the desired result of every session but is also not unusual and not always a reason to be alarmed.

Acupuncture requires the placement of extremely fine, sterile needles on certain spots of the body. Sometimes, needles will penetrate through a very tiny capillary (a tiny blood vessel) beneath the skin’s surface. Should this occur, a minimal amount of blood might seep into the adjacent tissue, which is then absorbed into the area around it to become a bruise. In fact, it’s a little different to a bruise as the damage to a capillary is smaller so they are not as tender as a bruise would be if you had suffered an impact, though they do look the same.

There are a few reasons why there may be bruising following acupuncture.

• Some people are naturally more likely to bruise than others because their blood vessels are too fragile or they have particularly sensitive skin.
• The use of some medications, such as blood thinners, is also known to make bruising more likely.
• The spot chosen for acupuncture could also be involved since it is possible that the spot with more minute blood vessels can be more susceptible.

Usually, any acupuncture mark that is seen as a bruise is small, like a small bruise you would get from knocking against something. The colour may be light pink or red at first but then slowly become a deeper purple or blue, ultimately changing to yellow or green once it heals. This takes about a few days to a week or two.

Although minor bruising is usually a normal and temporary side effect, there are some situations where it’s necessary to pay attention. If the bruising is widespread, with severe pain or swelling, or is infected (red, warm, with pus), it’s essential to call your acupuncturist or a medical professional.

How to reduce the risk of bruising?

To reduce bruising risk to a minimum, make sure to get treated by a well-qualified and skilled acupuncturist following proper needling practices, such as the experts at Acubody. In case you bruise easily or are on medication that interferes with blood clotting, discuss this with your acupuncturist beforehand.

Conclusion

A tiny bruise with most acupuncture procedures is merely an indication that an infinitesimal blood vessel was broken and will spontaneously resolve without interference. It is a small, temporary side effect on the way to health. If you’re concerned, don’t hesitate to bring it to our attention.

Schedule a consultation with Acubody if you have more questions regarding bruise acupuncture marks after a session.