A Chinese woman has caused a stir online after developing red and purple blotches on her body resembling snake skin, resulting from the use of a 'pure traditional Chinese medicine' ointment for over a decade. The 40-year-old woman, known as 'Tingting', was admitted to the Southeast University Zhongda Hospital in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, in October. She then developed concerning symptoms: her entire body was covered in red, purple cracks resembling snake skin. Additionally, she suffered from swelling in her lower limbs, along with nausea, vomiting, and recurrent numbness in her hands. Wang Fei, head of dermatology at the hospital, found that Tingting's cortisol levels had dropped significantly and diagnosed her with secondary adrenal insufficiency, a disorder in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough essential hormones. However, after medical intervention, her condition began to show signs of improvement. It is unclear if she will seek legal compensation. 'I thought I had finally found the right medicine.' While the initial treatment seemed to stabilize her condition, her health deteriorated markedly recently. As she continued to scratch, the lesions spread rapidly all over her body. In a desperate attempt to alleviate her pain, she turned to the internet and discovered a skin cream that was widely promoted. The seller claimed the cream was made from 'pure traditional Chinese medicine' and could 'cure all types of skin diseases'. However, long-term topical use leads to skin addiction. 'Many skin creams sold online, which are labeled as 'pure herbal and hormone-free', are secretly added with potent steroids,' Wang told the Yangtze Evening Post, noting that cases like Tingting's are common in the dermatology department. Steroids can indeed quickly relieve itching, redness, and other skin symptoms. Once discontinued, the symptoms may return. She stated that she treated herself without seeking any medical help. The patient not only gained a significant amount of weight but also suffered from extensive red, purple stretch marks resembling snake skin covering her entire body, as well as high blood pressure. According to Tingting, her ordeal began 10 years ago when red spots and itching first appeared on the lower part of her right leg. Convinced by the advertisement, Tingting bought the cream and used it persistently for a decade, eventually spending more than 100,000 yuan ($14,000). 'When I first started using it, its anti-itching effect was noticeable,' she said.