Argyria from Overindulgence of a Breath Freshener

Authors

  • Pattareewan Rojanapanthu Division of Dermatology, Phramongkutklao Hospital
  • Nattaporn Sampattavanich Division of Dermatology, Phramongkutklao Hospital
  • Kobkul Aunhachoke Division of Dermatology, Phramongkutklao Hospital

Keywords:

argyria, silver, Q-switched Nd, YAG laser

Abstract

We report a 53-year-old woman who presented with a blue-gray discoloration on her face and bluish discoloration of lunulae of all her nails. She admitted a 10-year-history of taking too many pellets of a breath freshener, Jintan silver pellet pills. Skin biopsy revealed round, black-colored, fine granules deposition at basement membrane of sweat glands and connective tissue. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) of the skin biopsy demonstrated the presence of silver and selenium. These findings were diagnostic of generalized cutaneous argyria. She was treated with Q-switched 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser with excellent improvement.

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Published

2018-12-04

How to Cite

Rojanapanthu, P., Sampattavanich, N., & Aunhachoke, K. (2018). Argyria from Overindulgence of a Breath Freshener. Thai Journal of Dermatology, 34(3), 217–224. Retrieved from https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/TJD/article/view/158898