Light to moderate pressure marks made by rope are a common side effect of rope bondage.

If the rope is tighter, the person likes to struggle, or their skin is more sensitive, severe rope marks can occur. These can take the form of bruising under the bands of rope, or they can be caused by skin getting pinched between ropes, resulting in petechial hemorrhaging (ruptures of capillaries close to the surface of the skin).

Prevention

Rope marks will occur. Petechial hemorrhaging is also common, but the risk of it can be reduced by running your fingers under each band of rope, so the ropes lay on top of the skin more evenly and are less likely to pinch. That said, petechial hemorrhaging is difficult to avoid altogether.

Treatment

Light rope marks typically go away by themselves after a few hours, but you can sometimes speed the process with moisturizer and light massage. Petechial hemorrhaging may take a few days to heal.