Argyria is a rare skin condition that can happen if silver builds up in your body over a long time. It can turn your skin, eyes, internal organs, nails, and gums a blue-gray color, especially in areas of your body exposed to sunlight. That change in your skin color is permanent.
How do you test for argyria?
To diagnose argyria, your doctor will need to take a small tissue sample from your skin. This is known as a skin biopsy. Microscopic examination of skin cells can reveal the telltale blue-gray pigmentation. Once your diagnosis is confirmed, you can take steps to avoid further exposure to silver.
How is argyria treated?
There is currently no cure for argyria, but recent research indicates that laser therapy using the quality switch (QS) laser may significantly improve skin discoloration. The QS laser delivers high-intensity pulses of light to affected areas of skin.
Can argyria be reversed?
Argyria is not treatable or reversible. Other side effects include neurologic problems (e.g., seizures), kidney damage, stomach distress, headaches, fatigue, and skin irritation.
How much silver is in the human body?
This does not happen, however. Trace amounts of silver are in the bodies of all humans and animals. We normally take in between 70 and 88 micrograms of silver a day, half of that amount from our diet. Humans have evolved with efficient methods of dealing with that intake, however.
Is silver poisonous?
Silver exhibits low toxicity in the human body, and minimal risk is expected due to clinical exposure by inhalation, ingestion, dermal application or through the urological or haematogenous route.
Can humans eat silver?
Can You Eat Silver? Silver is not quite the same as gold, because there are both ionic and non-ionic versions of this element. The non-ionic version is inactive and cannot be absorbed by the body, making it safe. However, the ionic version of silver can be digested the body, and can potentially cause toxic reactions.
Is there gold in our blood?
For instance, gold makes up about 0.02% of human blood. This element helps red blood cells keep their circular shape, explaining why adults have about 0.11 to 0.14 ounces (3 to 4 grams) of iron floating around in their blood, he said.
Is there gold in body?
Human body has Gold! A human body is composed of many elements. An average person’s body weighing 70 kilograms would contain a total mass of 0.2 milligrams of gold. The trace amount of Gold if turned a solid cube of purified gold will make a cube of 0.22 millimeters in measurement.
How is the diagnosis of argyria made?
A diagnosis of argyria is made by clinical inspection, sometimes including skin biopsy and histological examination. It may be combined with chemical analysis of biopsy specimens, if required. There is no recognized effective treatment for argyria.
What causes Localized argyria in the eye?
Localized argyria can occur in the eye (ocular argyrosis) from the overuse of silver containing eyedrops or cosmetic makeup. Sometimes, this may be the first objective sign of generalized argyria. Other forms of localized argyria are the appearance of blue macules at sites of acupuncture needles and silver earring sites.
Can you get argyria from silver?
The smallest amount of silver reported to produce generalized argyria in humans ranges from 4-5 g to 20-40 g. Silver at 50-500 mg/kg body weight is the lethal toxic dose in humans 4). Bianchi et al 5) report a possible genetic predisposition for argyria. Is argyria permanent? Yes. Unfortunately, the pigmentation is permanent and almost untreatable.
Which medications are implicated in the etiology of argyria?
Common implicated drugs include antimalarial drugs and minocycline. The incidence of argyria has increased due to self-directed use of silver in many naturopathic remedies. In most cases, patients have taken the offending medications for months, years, or even decades.
