Snake-Skin Nightmare After a Decade of Using a Pure TCM Ointment
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.
In This Article:
The Onset and Spread of the Lesions
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.
A Dubious Cure: Claims of a Pure Traditional Chinese Medicine 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.
A Patient’s Profile at the Hospital
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.
A Cautionary Tale About Self-Medication and Undisclosed Products
This case underscores the hazards of self-medication and internet-promoted remedies, and notes that the product name was not disclosed.
