How to Not Turn Blue

Member

By Crabcakes
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating: (3 Ratings)

Blue skin

No one but the Smurfs and The Blue Man Group look cute as blue beings! In this brief article, you will learn what NOT to do, to avoid looking cyanotic!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Knowledge of the dangers of ingesting silver

Step 1

Colloidal silver. Don't ingest colloidal silver. Silver does possesses germ-killing properties, but in its proper place. Silver is not meant to be taken orally, and in large or regular doses, causes skin and tissue, especially areas that are exposed to the sun, to take on a permanent blue hue. This effect is called argyria, and while not-lethal, it can cause great social discomfort. Leave the silver for its proper place in medicine... silver coated heart stents, silver coated bandages, etc.
Step 2

The following disorder, that turns skin blue is unavoidable, and mentioned here simply to make people aware... This disorder is NOT caused by silver. Methemoglobinemia, a long word for a very rare genetic blood disorder. (It can also be acquired through exposure to certain chemicals, including nitrites, xylocaine and benzene). If you had this disorder, you would know it by now! Symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, headache, and of course, a blue discoloration of the skin and tissues. Treatment includes ascorbic acid, methylene blue (which does not turn you blue!) and hyperbaric chamber therapy. You can read more about an entire Kentucky family, known as The Blue Fugates, that suffers from methemoglobinemia, in a link below.
Step 3

Holding your breath. This is the least effective way to turn blue! Don't do it - its really not any fun, and like colloidal silver, not a very useful thing to do! Natural mechanisms in the body will prevent you from holding your breath to the death!