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A Chinese woman shocked the internet after developing purplish-red “snake skin” patterns on her body from using a “pure traditional Chinese medicine” ointment for over a decade. The 40-year-old woman, known by the pseudonym Tingting, was admitted to Zhongda Hospital Southeast University in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, in October. She disclosed having self-medicated without ever seeking professional help. Not only is she significantly overweight, but she also has extensive purple-red, snake-like stretch marks covering her entire body and suffers from high blood pressure. According to Tingting, her ordeal began 10 years ago when red spots and itching first appeared on her lower right leg. As she continued to scratch, the lesions rapidly spread across her body. Desperate for relief, she turned to the internet and discovered a widely promoted skin cream. The seller claimed the cream was made from “pure traditional Chinese medicine” and could “cure all kinds of skin diseases.” The product name was not disclosed. Convinced by the advertisement, Tingting purchased the cream and used it continuously for a decade, ultimately spending over 100,000 yuan (US$14,000). “When I first started using it, the anti-itch effect was remarkable. I thought I had finally found the right medicine,” she stated. While the initial treatment seemed to stabilise her condition, her health has recently declined significantly. She presented alarming symptoms: her entire body was covered in snake-like, purplish-red fissures. Additionally, she suffered from swelling in her lower limbs, along with frequent nausea, vomiting, and numbness in her hands. Wang Fei, the chief dermatologist at Zhongda Hospital Southeast University, found that her cortisol levels had dramatically decreased and diagnosed her with secondary adrenocortical insufficiency, a disorder in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough essential hormones. After medical intervention, her condition has started to show signs of improvement. It remains unclear whether she will seek legal compensation. “Many so-called ‘pure herbal and hormone-free’ skin ointments sold online are secretly laced with powerful steroids,” Wang told the Yangtse Evening Post, noting that cases like Tingting’s are not uncommon in their dermatology department. “Steroids can indeed provide rapid relief from itching, redness, and other skin symptoms. However, prolonged topical use leads to skin dependence. Once discontinued, symptoms may rebound. Worse still, steroids can be absorbed through the skin and accumulate in the body over time, triggering side effects, suppressing adrenal function, and causing irreversible health damage.” He further cautioned: “Skin medications are no trivial matter – especially hormone-based drugs, which must be used properly under a doctor’s supervision.” The incident sparked heated discussions among Chinese netizens. One person remarked: “She didn’t feel unwell enough to go to the hospital? Self-medicating for 10 years? I don’t understand.” Another added: “It’s horrifying to look at the pictures. These merchants are truly evil.”
