Medical Care

Treatment with depigmenting preparations is not satisfactory; however, according to some reports, 5% hydroquinone treatment may reduce the number of silver granules in the upper dermis and around sweat glands and diminish the number of melanocytes.

Chelation attempts to remove silver from the body have been unsuccessful.

Sunscreens and opaque cosmetics may be helpful in preventing further pigmentary darkening and aid in masking obvious discoloration.

Surgical Care

The treatment of argyria caused by colloidal silver ingestion using the Q-switched 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser has been reported,^{[26, 27]}and a picosecond 755-nm Q-switched alexandrite laser has also been used with success for treatment.^{[28, 29]}

Medication

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Menaguale G, Fazio R, Fazio M. Argyria: a case following the prolonged use of a rhinologic drug. Esper Dermatol (Roma). 2003. 4:299-303.
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Georgiadou N, Singh S, Wagner B, et al. Occupational Localized Cutaneous Argyria With Pseudo-Ochronosis in a Jeweler. Am J Dermatopathol. 2021 Nov 1. 43 (11):822-826. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Gill P, Richards K, Cho WC, et al. Localized cutaneous argyria: Review of a rare clinical mimicker of melanocytic lesions. Ann Diagn Pathol. 2021 Oct. 54:151776. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Graham SA, O'Meara JM. The feasibility of measuring silver concentrations in vivo with x-ray fluorescence. Phys Med Biol. 2004 Aug 7. 49(15):N259-66. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Cinotti E, Labeille B, Douchet C, Cambazard F, Perrot JL. Dermoscopy, reflectance confocal microscopy, and high-definition optical coherence tomography in the diagnosis of generalized argyria. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Feb. 76 (2S1):S66-S68. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
García-Martínez P, López Aventín D, Segura S, Gómez-Martín I, Lloreta J, Ibáñez J, et al. In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy characterization of silver deposits in localized cutaneous argyria. Br J Dermatol. 2016 Nov. 175 (5):1052-1055. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
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Robinson-Bostom L, Pomerantz D, Wilkel C, et al. Localized argyria with pseudo-ochronosis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2002 Feb. 46(2):222-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Sato S, Sueki H, Nishijima A. Two unusual cases of argyria: the application of an improved tissue processing method for X-ray microanalysis of selenium and sulphur in silver-laden granules. Br J Dermatol. 1999 Jan. 140(1):158-63. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
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Media Gallery

A 92-year-old asymptomatic white man with generalized argyria. For many years, this man had used nose drops containing silver. His skin biopsy showed silver deposits in the dermis, confirming the diagnosis of argyria. © Dec 3, 2008 Herbert L. Fred, MD; Hendrik A. van Dijk. Textbook content produced by Herbert L. Fred, MD; Hendrik A. van Dijk is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License 2.0 license.

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Author

Kamila K Padlewska, MD, PhD Professor, Warsaw Academy of Cosmetics and Health Care; Chief Executive, Cosmetic-Medical Cooperative Izis, Poland

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH Professor and Head of Dermatology, Professor of Pathology, Professor of Pediatrics, Professor of Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, New York Academy of Medicine, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Richard P Vinson, MD Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Mountain View Dermatology, PA

Richard P Vinson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Texas Medical Association, Association of Military Dermatologists, Texas Dermatological Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jeffrey J Miller, MD Associate Professor of Dermatology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine; Staff Dermatologist, Pennsylvania State Milton S Hershey Medical Center

Jeffrey J Miller, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, Society for Investigative Dermatology, Association of Professors of Dermatology, North American Hair Research Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

William D James, MD Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, Vice-Chairman, Residency Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Received income in an amount equal to or greater than $250 from: Elsevier; WebMD<br/>Served as a speaker for various universities, dermatology societies, and dermatology departments.

Acknowledgements

Smeena Khan, MD Private Practice, Adult and Pediatric Dermatology Associates

Smeena Khan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.