A piercer warned everyone who has piercings not to wear silver body jewelry. The reason surprised many.
In a viral video with over 2.3 million views, TikTok user and piercer Lynn Loheide (@lynnloheide) said that silver jewelry can be harmful to the wearer and explained why.
“Has a piercer ever told you not to wear silver body jewelry?” asks the woman in the clip.
She then gave a reason why they should be avoided.
“That’s why we advise you not to wear silver jewelry,” she said, pointing to a background image of a nose with a dark discoloration spot. “It’s called argyria. It’s a permanent stain on the skin caused by contact with silver.”
What is argyria?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, argyria is a condition that causes discoloration of the skin (and other parts of the body). The skin can turn blue to gray. The discoloration is the result of frequent exposure to tiny silver compounds that are absorbed into the body.
The website also notes that argyria can be difficult to treat because once the color changes occur, they can be very difficult for doctors to correct.
“This is permanent, folks,” the TikToker warned in her video. “This isn’t going away.”
According to the Cleveland Clinic, doctors will likely recommend that patients with this diagnosis stop using products containing silver (including medications, eye drops, and even dietary supplements).
Loheide also said there is some evidence that some laser treatments can help reverse the discoloration in some cases, something the Cleveland Clinic confirms.
Nevertheless, the TikToker believes that it is best to avoid silver jewelry altogether.
She also differentiated between silver jewelry and jewelry that simply looks silver. She said silver-colored body jewelry made from metals such as implant steel, implant titanium, white gold or platinum is fine. However, she advises avoiding jewelry made from real silver.
@lynnloheide #greenscreen #piercer #piercing #pierced #nosepiercing #piercersoftikok #fyp ♬ Original sound – Lynn Loheide
Many are surprised that they were never warned
In the comments, many viewers expressed surprise that they had never heard of this skin disease.
“I’ve never heard of not wearing silver,” wrote user Ashes.
“I wear sterling silver in all my piercings and no one told me???” said user Bea.
Others believed that people should avoid the metal.
“In this household it’s implant grade titanium or NOTHING,” said user Sarah.
Several piercers have used TikTok to educate and warn others about piercings and body jewelry. One woman went viral after educating her viewers on the difference between a triangle piercing and a stacked lobe.
Another piercing enthusiast made headlines when she shared the story of how she joined the Satanic Temple to obtain a religious exemption that allowed her to wear a piercing in school.
The Daily Dot emailed user Lynn Loheide for comment.
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