When Tingting looked in the mirror, her skin was covered in purple, snake-like lines — and she had no idea why.

For ten long years, the 40-year-old woman from China had battled painful itching and red spots that spread across her legs and arms. Desperate for relief, she turned to the internet and bought a “miracle” herbal cream that promised to heal anything. It seemed harmless — even traditional.

“At first, it worked like magic,” she said softly. “I thought I’d finally found peace.”
But that peace came at a cost. Her skin began to change. Strange purplish marks crept across her body, and soon she felt weak, nauseous, and numb. Doctors were stunned — her body had absorbed dangerous steroids hidden in the cream. Her hormone levels had dropped so low that her life was at risk.

Tingting’s story isn’t rare. Experts warn that many “herbal” products online secretly contain powerful steroids that damage the body silently over time. What starts as hope can turn into heartbreak.

Today, Tingting is recovering, slowly learning to trust real medicine again. Her warning is simple but powerful: “Don’t risk your health for a promise on a screen.”