Ann Dermatol.  2009 Aug;21(3):308-310. 10.5021/ad.2009.21.3.308.

A Case of Argyria Following Colloidal Silver Ingestion

• Kwon HB
• Lee JH
• Lee SH
• Lee AY
• Choi JS
• Ahn YS

• KMID: 2266299
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2009.21.3.308

Abstract

Argyria is a rare cutaneous discoloration caused by the intake of silver or various compounds containing silver. We report a case of argyria in a 73-year-old male following ingestion of colloidal silver as an alternative medicine over 5 years. He had a diffuse, slate gray discoloration of his face and hands. A biopsy specimen from the face revealed brown-black extracellular granules in the upper dermis and between collagen bundles. We also found silver particles in the mucous of the colon. The ingestion of colloidal silver appears to be increasing among patients using alternative health practices. We report this case to bring people's attention to the problems associated with the ingestion of colloidal silver.

Keyword

Argyria; Colloidal silver

MeSH Terms

Aged
Argyria
Biopsy
Collagen
Colloids
Colon
Complementary Therapies
Dermis
Eating
Hand
Humans
Male
Silver
Collagen
Colloids
Silver

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Diffuse bronze-colored pigmentation on the face (right: patient, left: control).

• 

  Fig. 2 Brown-black extracellular granules (closed arrows) were found in the upper dermis and between collagen bundles (H&E, ×400).

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  Fig. 3 Fine brown-black silver granules (closed arrows) at the lamina propria as well as at the basement membrane of duodenal epithelium (H&E, ×400).

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