Background: Argyria is a rare skin disease caused by cutaneous deposits of silver granules as a result of exposure to silver substrates or ingestion of silver salt. This pigmentation change causes cosmetic problems, and there was previously no recognized effective treatments for argyria.
Objective: To evaluate the treatment effect of a low-fluence Q-switched 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser on argyria.
Subjects and methods: Case report of a 49-year-old with a history of ingestion of a colloidal silver solution daily for approximately one year as a traditional remedy.
Results: After seven sessions of treatment, the patient's skin color returned to normal.
Conclusion: A low-fluence Q-switched 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser provided safe and effective treatment for the skin discoloration associated with argyria.
© 2011 The International Society of Dermatology.