Semi-permanent skin staining associated with silver-coated wound dressing Acticoat.

A 17-year-old male with burns to 8% of his total body surface area was treated for 10 days with Acticoat(®), a nanocrystalline silver dressing. The burns, which were on his back and shoulder, healed without infection. However, a skin discoloration in the wound area and the adjacent uninjured skin appeared in the first days of treatment. The staining remained visible even after the treatment had ended and disappeared approximately three years later. Despite the outstanding antimicrobial properties, possible side effects of silver nanocrystalline dressings should be kept in mind.