hippocrates, the father of medicine already described silver as a useful element in healing. By the 1930s, penicillin had not yet been discovered, colloidal silver was considered one of the antibiotics of use.
Silver utensils in everyday life have been very frequent until a few years ago, when the increase in its price has relegated its use to a sign of luxury, so a silver cutlery, jugs or simple brushes, have their explanation of use not only to its daily use but at a hygienic level, since silver, due to its own characteristics, has the ability to prevent the growth of bacteria.
Before, there were no dishwashers available, so the use of the silver cutlery was the most hygienic that existed, also hair brushes, shaving tools prevented bacterial proliferation. Some trick that you hear is that of the orzueloswhich when you have one, is rubbing once morest a silver ring (formerly a silver coin the same) to cure it.
In fact, the bactericidal action is what gives meaning to this popular tradition. Thus, in cosmetics one of the best-known functions is that of preservative, due to its antimicrobial effect, although it interferes with some cosmetic salts and its use is not approved in many countries, this natural antimicrobial action can help reduce the amount of preservatives in cosmetics. The colloidal payment it is not more than silver nanoparticles suspended in wateralthough it must be de-ionized water since ions and electrolytes can affect this colloidal silver.
Why is the use of colloidal silver in cosmetics being questioned?
According to some studies, silver nanoparticles are skin permeable human and these nano-particles of silver in the skin present cytotoxicity in keratinocytes when they are in contact with UVB radiation causing this cell destruction.
Due to controversy, other studies show that when the concentrations are very low, in the order of 0.002 to 0.02 parts per milliondoes not have enough force to cause this cytotoxicity of the keratinocytes even if it is exposed to this UVB radiation, because the nano-particles are very stable.
That is why some countries have not authorized its use in cosmetics as a preventive since they are not known with certainty (o There are not enough studies yet) possible health risks. The silver is authorized however as food coloring is known as E174.
Although silver nanoparticles are effective in preventing infections by numerous bacteria and fungi, it might therefore be a very useful component as a preservative in cosmetics and avoid the use of a large number of others. In some countries like Australia, a multitude of products are being used in toys, baby bottles, cosmetics, textiles, cleaning products, kitchen cutting boards, refrigerators and dishwashers.
Another negative effect of silver in all these products is that it also acts once morest bacteria that we might consider beneficial above all once morest biological recycling, for which reason it is intervening once morest this use and limiting its use in so many products.
The bacteriostatic action of silver can also be useful in products for personal use such as razors, hair brushes, etc. Some hair straighteners also contain silver as the effect of reduction of static energy, thanks to its ionization capacity.
In moisturizing cosmetics and anti-aging creams
Liposomes are the form that has been used for years to transport and improve the solubility of active ingredients in cosmetic products. Such as vitamin E or other vitamins. The nano-emulsionsthey are different, it is the way to solubilize insoluble products, it is a micro-suspension, a dispersion of nano-sized particles in a liquid, in this case silver in de-ionized water or gold in cosmetics .
as preservatives
One of the ways that silver is used as a preservative is in the form of silver citrate, it is also a nano-emulsion of silver nano-particles in citric acid. Silver acts as a bactericide, directly affecting the life of microorganisms.
Most bacteria, fungi and viruses have specific enzymes necessary for their life, silver acts once morest the metabolic processes in which these are involved enzymes destroying themthus stopping and eliminating these microorganisms.
The action of silver is also thanks to its ionization capacity, it releases small amounts of ions of silver that attack the cell membrane of the microorganismsstopping cell mitosis and fighting the proliferation of microorganisms.
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In medicine
Colloidal silver is imperceptible both by taste and smell, which can also be useful in oral to avoid infectious diseases such as flu, parasites or other digestive infections. Both in homeopathy and allopathy, silver is used orally in a very low dosage.
In dermatological medicine
The most proven action in dermatology is to accelerate the reconstruction of damaged skin and tissues, for injuries or burns at a very low concentration and applying it to the skin in layers. It began to be used in medicine during the 70s. Dr. Carl Moyer, head of the Washington Department of Surgery, began to present his studies on the antiseptic and safe capacity of using silver on burns.
Other most common applications:
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Acne
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Burns
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Blood poisoning
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Candida, cholera… ulcers, a multitude of properties are attributed to it, in short, the majority in which bacteriological, viral or fungal microorganisms are involved.
The most common use
great capacity of healing especially in wounds with exudate. The products that we can most commonly find in the pharmacy are plasters, patches or hydro-colloid products. These silver particles mix with the exudate from a wound or burn, gelling, in turn forming a lipid-colloidal matrix, thus improving the healing process.
The silver, in many of these products, is in the form of a salt, such as silver sulfadiazine. Thus, it is one of the most useful elements in wound healing processes due to burns, abrasions or dermabrasions in which there is exudate or suppuration and which, in turn, is an easy risk of infection.
The use of these patches can prevent the proliferation of bacteria and improve healing speed. The bactericidal capacity of silver acts in a way “sterilizing” this wound and eliminating any possible infection. If the injured skin is left in sterile conditions, it will heal naturally. Sometimes it is combined with zinc oxide and dexopanthenol.
OTHER USES
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Las internal walls of refrigerators many times they contain silver to avoid the formation of germs and odors.
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likewise in shoes and socks.
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It is very effective in low concentration and with a high bactericidal spectrum.
