Mysterious silver poisoning turned an 84-year-old gray for good

A man, 84, was admitted to Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong for enlarged prostate complications. Doctors were surprised by his silver skin, nails, and eyes, not his prostate issues.

A skin biopsy revealed gray granules in the man’s blood vessels, sweat glands, hair follicles, and skin fibers. Blood tests confirmed high silver concentration, causing generalized argyria, a rare condition from silver buildup.

According to Ars Technica, the New England Journal of Medicine reported that argyria results from prolonged ingestion of silver, leading to its accumulation in the body tissues. Exposure to ultraviolet light causes the silver ions to oxidize, resulting in the characteristic blue-gray coloration of argyria patients.

Although ingesting silver has been promoted by alternative medicine practitioners, there is no evidence supporting its health benefits. Excessive silver intake can be toxic, causing harm to the liver, kidneys, and bone marrow, and even death.

The cause of the argyria in the Hong Kong man remains unknown. Despite only taking prescribed medication for his prostate, no intentional silver ingestion was reported. Doctors discharged him with a referral for further tests.

Regardless of the mystery surrounding his condition, this case serves as a warning against using silver home remedies.

 

Win the Holidays with PopSci’s Gift Guides

Shopping for, well, anyone? The PopSci team’s holiday gift recommendations mean you’ll never need to buy another last-minute gift card.

See also  Derek Jeter at 50 still feels too good to be true