page_title: Argyria
section_title: Society and culture
hierarchical_section_title: Argyria / Society and culture
caption_attribution_description: Español: Botella de 9oz de plata coloidal Super Tyndall Effect
context_page_description: Argyria or argyrosis is a condition caused by excessive exposure to chemical compounds of the element silver, or to silver dust. The most dramatic symptom of argyria is that the skin turns blue or blue-grey. It may take the form of generalized argyria or local argyria. Generalized argyria affects large areas over much of the visible surface of the body. Local argyria shows in limited regions of the body, such as patches of skin, parts of the mucous membrane or the conjunctiva.
  The terms argyria and argyrosis have long been used interchangeably, with argyria being used more frequently. Argyrosis has been used particularly in referring to argyria of the conjunctiva, but the usage has never been consistent and cannot be relied on except where it has been explicitly specified. The term is from Ancient Greek: ἄργυρος argyros silver.
context_section_description: A prominent case from ingestion of colloidal silver was that of Stan Jones of Montana, a Libertarian candidate for the United States Senate in 2002 and 2006. The peculiar coloration of his skin was featured prominently in media coverage of his unsuccessful campaign, though Jones contended that the best-known photo was "doctored". Jones promised that he was not using his silvery complexion as a gimmick. He promoted the use of colloidal silver as a home remedy. He said that his good health, excepting the unusual skin tone, is the result of his use of colloidal silver.
  In 2007, press reports described Paul Karason, an American man whose entire skin gradually turned blue after he took a homemade silver chloride colloid and used a silver salve on his face in an attempt to treat problems with his sinus, dermatitis, acid reflux and other issues. At the time of the reports, Karason maintained his belief in silver's effectiveness and continued to take it, albeit in smaller doses. He died in 2013 of unrelated causes.
  Rosemary Jacobs is a prominent activist against alternative medicine. As a child, Jacobs was treated for allergies with nose drops that contained colloidal silver, and developed argyria as a result. Jacobs came to international attention after Paul Karason was on The Today Show in 2008. From 2010 to 2013, Jacobs posted about topics in health fraud, particularly naturopathy, on her blog.
caption: Colloidal silver is illegally marketed as a medicine, but it is not effective and may interfere with the functioning of some medications, such as antibiotics and thyroxine.[11]
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