Smurf Syndrome

The Smurf Syndrome (also known as Argyria or Argyrosis) is a condition caused by inappropriate exposure to chemical compounds of the element silver or to silver dust. The main symptom of the Smurf Syndrome is a blue or bluish-grey discoloration of the skin. In humans and mammals, silver accumulates in the body. Chronic intake of silver products will result in an accumulation of silver particles in the skin. These particles in the skin darken with exposure to sunlight, resulting in the irreversible blue or bluish-gray discoloration of the skin.

In the olden days, when antibiotics weren't available to treat infections, people used all sorts of ‘medicines’. Scientific research has now shown that silver or colloidal silver (silver particles suspended in a liquid or gel) is completely useless[1].

But that uselessness and irreversible discoloration of the skin does not deter feeble-minded people to keep advocating its non-existing usefulness. Quacks keep selling it because,  rather than in science, some people will always put their trust in homeopathy or some other far-fetched theory.

[1] Storm-Versloot et al: Topical silver for preventing wound infection in The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews - 2010