Srebrica – causes, symptoms, treatment

Argyria, also known as argyria (Latin argentum, meaning silver) is a very rare disease associated with the deposition of silver particles in the body. Metallic, chemically pure silver is non-toxic. However, silver salts, e.g. silver nitrate, silver chloride, silver bromide may be irritating to mucous membranes and skin, causing allergies and burns.

Srebrzyca – causes

Srebrzyca is a disease resulting from the long-term use of silver compounds. Silver compounds are found in the soil, minerals such as argentite, bromargyrite, chlorargyrite (horn silver). Srebrzyca appears when silver salts accumulate in the body, among others as a result of professional work in a silver mine, mainly in poor working conditions in the production of electronic parts, chemical apparatus, coinage, production of mirrors and in people who take silver from other sources, e.g. colloidal silver with antibacterial properties. Srebrzyca it may appear locally after contact of silver jewelry with the skin. Silver can be absorbed through the skin, mucous membranes and respiratory tract. After getting into the bloodstream, it goes to the liver, where it is stored. It is not certain whether colloidal silver, commonly considered safe, does not contribute to the formation silvery. In natural medicine, colloidal silver is considered a natural antibiotic. Clinical trials have not confirmed this fact, in many countries the use of preparations with silver content is not allowed.

Until the formation of silvery Dental procedures, surgery, and even acupuncture can also contribute.

The most important symptoms of silvery

Symptoms of silvery are silver cations accumulating, especially in tissues exposed to sunlight such as skin and mucous membranes. Srebrzyca it appears after half a year of delivering a daily dose of 25-30 g of silver to the body. Safe daily dose for man it was estimated at 1,8-80 mg. Under normal conditions, a person is exposed to silver every day through food, water, air. However, only 1-2 percent. silver accumulates in the body, the rest is removed.

The most important symptoms of silver disease are:

1. blue-gray or brown-gray discoloration of the mucosa and discoloration of the gums,
2. even gray-blue or dark-gray color of the skin and nails, especially in places exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck, hands and hands,
3. black spots with a metal sheen may appear on the body,
4. discoloration of internal organs,
5. the color of the eyeballs may change when the patient has been taking eye drops containing silver on a regular basis, which may lead to visual disturbances,
6. in extreme cases, silver can be found in saliva, urine, feces,
7. very rarely there are dark or black tears,
8. gastritis, fatty liver disease and kidney damage are common.

The first symptoms they may appear after many months or years of contact with silver compounds. Severe symptoms they occur extremely rarely, as a rule silvery it is considered primarily a cosmetic problem.

The symptoms of silver dermatitis are sometimes confused with:

1. homosiderosis, related to the accumulation of iron,
2. Wilson’s disease,
3. Addison’s disease,
4. skin cancer
5. gold poisoning,
6. bismuth poisoning,
7. from taking medications for malaria.

Srebrzyca – diagnosis and treatment

In the diagnosis of the disease the most important thing is to detect its triggers. Removal of these factors prevents the further development of the disease. Symptomatic examination and history are usually sufficient to make a diagnosis silvery. However, the histopathological examination of a fragment of the affected skin is absolutely certain.

Treatment of this disease is ineffective, so far no drug has been developed that would remove silver particles from the body. Once the blue-gray color of the skin appears, it cannot be removed, unfortunately it remains for the rest of your life.

For the treatment of silvery, it is used:

1. laser therapy, which may reduce the intensity of the color,
2. the use of depigmenting substances, e.g. hydrohinone, which lighten the skin by inhibiting the synthesis of the dark pigment – melanin,
3. the use of selenium and sulfur compounds that bind silver, however, the clinical effect of this therapy is unconfirmed.

The silver of the eye heals the so-called the Weyman method, consisting in performing subconjunctival injections. This therapy brings very good results.

Srebrzyca – interesting facts

The term was probably derived from the name of this disease “blue blood”because the representatives of royal families and aristocracy, from the constant use of silver tableware, had a slightly bluish skin tone. Currently, this disease is very rare. The world’s most famous man suffering from silvery was the American Paul Karason (who died in 2013), known under the pseudonym «Papa Smerf«Who has been taking a forbidden medicine containing silver for 15 years.