A Rare Case: What’s the Story of the “Silver Man” in Hong Kong?

22nd January 2025

2 minutes read

A Rare Case: What’s the Story of the "Silver Man" in Hong Kong?

The website “Science Alert” highlighted a rare medical case from a Hong Kong hospital, where an 84-year-old man experienced unusual changes in his skin color due to the accumulation of metallic silver in his body.

According to the medical report, this color change was not recent but started appearing gradually about five years ago.

Medical examinations revealed that the accumulation of silver in his body was the cause of this phenomenon.

The levels of silver in his blood were extremely high, reaching more than 40 times the normal concentrations found in healthy individuals. This led to the formation of oxidized silver particles in body tissues, particularly in sweat glands and blood vessels under the skin.

This rare condition is known as argyria, which results from the accumulation of silver in tissues. Symptoms often become more noticeable when the skin is exposed to sunlight, causing blue or gray patches to appear on the skin.

Although argyria is rare, it has been documented in medical history, particularly among craftsmen and miners who frequently worked with silver.

It is worth noting that silver usually accumulates in the body only when it is absorbed through medications or dietary supplements containing silver. These “treatments,” often marketed as detox aids or immune boosters, can introduce large amounts of silver into the body, leading to its accumulation.

Silver is typically absorbed through the skin, respiratory system, or digestive system, then travels through the body and settles in various tissues.
Ultraviolet (UV) rays contribute to the chemical reaction of silver, turning silver ions into compounds that reflect grayish or pale blue hues.

Fortunately, this condition does not pose a significant long-term health threat. While argyria causes significant cosmetic changes, silver accumulation is generally benign and does not lead to serious health issues, aside from minor effects on the absorption of certain medications, such as antibiotics and hormones.

However, the man will find it difficult to reverse the dark gray discoloration of his skin, resulting in permanent effects on his external appearance.