• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Bizarre case of man who suffered horrific side-effect and turned himself permanently blue

Home> News> Health

Updated 13:54 11 Jul 2025 GMT+1Published 13:45 11 Jul 2025 GMT+1

Bizarre case of man who suffered horrific side-effect and turned himself permanently blue

Paul Karason inadvertently poisoned himself with silver

Dan Seddon

Dan Seddon

Did you know there's a condition born from taking dietary supplements that can turn a person blue?

Known as argyria, WebMD explains that this permanent pigmental mutation occurs when silver builds up in the body over an extended period of time - giving the skin, eyes, nails, gums, and even internal organs a blue-gray tinge.

Depending on how much silver one is exposed to, symptoms typically start inside the mouth after just a few months or sometimes years, while the discoloration is most apparent in the areas that see the sun the most.

The late Paul Karason was a sufferer, and we're going to tell you his unique story.

Advert

Paul Karason claimed he hadn't even noticed his skin's transformation until a friend pointed it out (YouTube/Inside Edition)
Paul Karason claimed he hadn't even noticed his skin's transformation until a friend pointed it out (YouTube/Inside Edition)

Referred to as 'Papa Smurf' by the internet, US citizen Paul was a fair-skinned bloke prior to spotting an advertisement for the supposed rejuvenating 'magic' behind colloidal silver.

Dealing with a bad case of dermatitis on his face, he produced the mixture himself via electrolysis, which dissolved in water.

It's believed that he ended up drinking around 10 ounces every single day for at least a decade.

Advert

Interviewed by ABC News back in 2008, Paul claimed he hadn't even noticed his skin's transformation until an old friend stopped by his Oregon home for a visit.

He recalled: "He looks at me and he says, 'What have you got on your face?' 'I don't have anything on my face!'

"He says, 'Well, it looks like you've got camouflage makeup on or something.' And by golly, he came in and he was very fair-skinned, as I used to be. And that's when it hit me."

What he had felt, though, were positive changes in his health.

Advert

"The acid reflux problem I'd been having just went away completely," said Paul. "I had arthritis in my shoulders so bad I couldn't pull a T-shirt off. And the next thing I knew, it was just gone."

Paul claimed 'there's not the slightest doubt in my mind' that this was all down to the colloidal silver product.

The American sadly passed away in 2013 (YouTube/Inside Edition)
The American sadly passed away in 2013 (YouTube/Inside Edition)

In September 2013, he sadly passed away at the age of 62.

Advert

Paul was admitted to a Washington hospital after having a heart attack. His wife, Jo Anna Karason, revealed he also had pneumonia and fell foul of a severe stroke.

Speaking to TODAY, the widow suggested her husband was never quite sold on his 'Papa Smurf' nickname.

"That was a nickname he didn’t appreciate, depending on who said it," Jo Anna said. "If it was a kid who ran up to him saying 'Papa Smurf,' it would put a smile on his face. But if it was an adult, well..."

In his final years, regular smoker Paul underwent a triple bypass and rarely left the house.

Advert

"He has been too ill to work for a while," noted Jo Anna, before explaining how he'd spent a great deal of time just reading historical books and watching the History Channel.

"He didn’t like to go out in public much - only when he thought he needed to, like to go to the bank or to pick up tobacco."

Featured Image Credit: ABC News

Topics: Health, Science

Dan Seddon
Dan Seddon

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Doctors made shocking side effect discovery after man who’d smoked for decades complained about chronic cough
  • Biohacker who is 'reverse aging' reveals horrifying side-effect of procedure to make him look younger
  • New study finds common sex habit done by 69% of men could have horrific effect on brain function
  • Expert reveals lesser known side effect of Ozempic that might shock you

Choose your content:

15 mins ago
16 mins ago
17 mins ago
22 mins ago
  • Getty Stock ImagesGetty Stock Images
    15 mins ago

    Airline sparks outrage with controversial new plus-size seating rule

    Southwest Airlines has announced plus-sized passengers may have to fork out for additional seats

    News
  • TOM BAKER/AFP via Getty ImagesTOM BAKER/AFP via Getty Images
    16 mins ago

    Local man reveals chilling thought after hearing Minneapolis school shooting that's left 'up to 20 people injured'

    Locals have shared their horror following a man opened fire with a rifle at a school

    News
  • instagram/krisjennerinstagram/krisjenner
    17 mins ago

    Kris Jenner candidly explains reason for new facelift following daughter's admissions on plastic surgery

    Kris Jenner reportedly splashed out $100,000 on her new face

    Celebrity
  • Kevin Dietsch/Getty ImagesKevin Dietsch/Getty Images
    22 mins ago

    Elon Musk’s own chatbot gave user ‘detailed’ tips on how to assassinate him

    Leaked chats show Grok also discussed illegal activity such as insider trading

    Technology