The world’s most famous blue man, Paul Karason, also dubbed Papa Smurf, was born as a fair-skinned, freckled boy with ginger hair. In the 2000s, he became an internet sensation and made many TV appearances, openly talking about his condition. Let’s find out together why Karason turned blue and how he became a cautionary tale.
Paul Karason had a skin condition that made his skin flake, as well as acid reflux and arthritis. Doing his own research in order to improve these ailments, he found out about a solution of silver in water, also known as colloidal silver.
Colloidal silver was widely used as an antibiotic back before penicillin was invented in the 1930s. It was banned in 1999 in over-the-counter medications after scientists found that it can severely damage internal organs.
The late Paul Karason and his wife, Joanne
Karason drank what he believed was a miracle cure for over 10 years. Moreover, he even began to apply a silver preparation directly to his skin; he claimed his acid reflux and arthritis just went away. “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,” he shared.
Due to the silver accumulation in his skin, he started to turn blue and suffered from a permanent and rare condition called argyria. Only when Karason met an old friend who asked him, “What have you done to yourself?” did he begin to realize he’d become blue.
Karason claimed his blue skin had many advantages — he never got sunburns or had to wear sunglasses. There were some side effects he did not appreciate, however, such as folks “being less than polite” to him. Moreover, Karason confessed he couldn’t get a job because of employers’ resistance to hiring “people that are blue or that are noticeably different.”
Sadly, Paul Karason passed away in 2013 when he was 62 years old due to heart complications.
Papa Smurf’s story serves as a valuable lesson about the importance of being careful when it comes to at-home remedies. While it’s natural to want to find easy solutions to health problems, it’s important to be aware that such remedies can sometimes pose serious risks. It’s always better to consult a doctor and follow their advice for a safe and effective treatment.
Preview photo credit Inside Edition / YouTube
Woman tries grandmother’s 1950s honeymoon wardrobe and people can’t believe how good it is
Ambler, Pennsylvania resident Maddy Bill, 27, recently shared an amazing family heirloom on TikTok. She unveiled in a video a suitcase that, 70 years later, still held her grandmother’s 1952 wedding gown. To ensure each piece of clothing was long-lasting, Maddy’s grandma, Marie D’Alessandro Donato, cleaned and kept them all.
As she tried on the antique gowns and jewelry, Maddy said, “This is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen,” expressing her amazement. Maddy talked about her grandparents’ love tale and their honeymoon in New York City. Even though they were dressed simply, her grandmother treasured every second she spent with her darling “pop pop.”
After receiving a lot of attention from the public, Maddy thought about donating the clothing to next generations. Her goal is to carry on her grandmother’s tradition by highlighting the ageless attraction of fashion.
This endearing story highlights the timeless appeal of 1950s fashion while honoring the relationship between generations.
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