Can Manganese Be Absorbed Through the Skin?

December 23, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), only very small amounts of inorganic manganese can enter your skin, meaning daily contact like showering or hand-washing poses a negligible risk. However, the level of dermal absorption can vary significantly depending on the chemical form of manganese involved, with some organic compounds presenting a more notable pathway for entry into the body.

Quick Summary

Dermal absorption of manganese is generally insignificant for inorganic forms, like those found in food and water, posing little to no health risk from casual contact. Specific organic manganese compounds, however, can be absorbed through the skin and may be a concern in certain industrial or occupational settings.

Key Points

Limited Absorption: Inorganic manganese, the form most people encounter, is very poorly absorbed through the skin, presenting a low health risk from casual contact.
Organic vs. Inorganic: The ability for manganese to be absorbed depends on its chemical form; specific organic manganese compounds can be absorbed more readily than inorganic ones.
Occupational Concern: Significant dermal absorption is primarily a concern for workers with high, direct exposure to certain organic manganese compounds, not for the general public.
Inhalation is Key: For heavy metal toxicity like manganism, inhalation of dust and fumes in occupational settings represents the most dangerous route of exposure, not dermal contact.
Body's Regulation: The liver tightly regulates manganese levels in the body by promoting excretion, but this system can be overwhelmed by excessive exposure through high-risk routes.
Compare to Magnesium: The perception of transdermal mineral absorption is often based on marketing for products like magnesium oil; however, the scientific evidence for significant transdermal absorption of manganese is weak.

Understanding the Dermal Absorption of Manganese

For most people, the skin is not a significant route of exposure to manganese. The majority of our manganese intake comes from food and water, with inhalation being the primary concern in occupational settings. The permeability of the skin to any substance depends on several factors, including the molecule's size, its chemical properties (e.g., solubility), and the integrity of the skin's protective outer layer, the stratum corneum. Inorganic manganese, the form most commonly encountered, has a very limited ability to penetrate this barrier.

Factors Influencing Manganese Dermal Absorption

The chemical form of manganese is the most critical factor determining potential skin absorption.

Inorganic Manganese: In its inorganic form, such as manganese dioxide or manganese salts found in soil and water, manganese is poorly absorbed through the skin. Numerous health agencies, including the CDC, affirm that skin contact with manganese in water (from bathing or washing) is not considered a significant exposure risk.
Organic Manganese: In contrast, some organo-manganese compounds, like the gasoline additive methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT), can be absorbed more readily through the skin. This is a particular concern for workers in specific industries who may come into direct contact with these specialized chemical forms.

The Skin Barrier and Chemical Permeability

The skin's outer layer, the stratum corneum, acts as a formidable barrier. It is designed to be water-repellent, and only certain substances can cross it in appreciable amounts. For ionized metals like manganese, crossing this lipid-rich layer is highly challenging. The size of the hydrated manganese ion is much larger than its dehydrated form, making it nearly impossible for it to pass through biological membranes via simple diffusion. Entry is typically reliant on specific transport mechanisms or damage to the skin's barrier function.

Manganese Absorption Routes: Dermal vs. Others

To put dermal exposure into perspective, it's helpful to compare it with the other, more significant routes of manganese entry into the body.


Feature	Dermal Absorption	Inhalation	Ingestion
Primary Form	Organic compounds more likely absorbed. Inorganic forms poorly absorbed.	Fine dusts and fumes, often metal oxides.	Manganese in food and drinking water.
Significance of Absorption	Generally negligible for inorganic forms. Can be significant for specific organic compounds.	Major route of occupational exposure, bypassing some liver filtration.	Main source for the general population; absorption rate is low and regulated.
Health Concerns	Minimal risk for general public. Concerns for specific occupational exposures to organic manganese.	Most common cause of chronic manganese poisoning (manganism), affecting the nervous system.	Risk typically only with very high levels, as seen in contaminated well water.
Affected Population	Industrial workers exposed to organic manganese additives.	Welders, miners, and steel factory workers.	General population, especially those with contaminated well water or high supplement intake.

Occupational vs. General Public Exposure

The distinction between exposure in the general population and in occupational settings is crucial. For the public, incidental contact with manganese from environmental sources like water poses no significant threat of dermal absorption. For industrial workers, however, particularly those dealing with organic manganese compounds, exposure through skin contact requires careful management. Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) and hygiene protocols are essential to mitigate this risk, as this route can lead to more significant systemic exposure.

The Body's Response and Excretion

Once absorbed via any route, manganese is transported through the bloodstream and primarily handled by the liver. The liver regulates manganese levels and excretes excess amounts into bile, which is then eliminated via feces. This homeostatic mechanism helps protect the body from accumulating harmful levels of manganese. However, this system can be overwhelmed by very high or chronic exposure, particularly via inhalation, leading to toxicity.

Conclusion: Weighing the Risks of Dermal Manganese Exposure

In summary, the question of whether manganese can be absorbed through the skin has a nuanced answer. For the vast majority of the population and for inorganic forms of the element, dermal absorption is insignificant and not a health concern. This means everyday activities like bathing or using water containing manganese are safe in terms of skin absorption. The primary risk of significant dermal absorption is limited to specific occupational contexts involving prolonged or repeated contact with certain organic manganese compounds. In these specialized environments, adherence to safety protocols is essential. Ultimately, manganese toxicity is far more commonly associated with inhalation and ingestion than with dermal exposure, underscoring the importance of understanding the different pathways and their associated risks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, bathing in water with typical levels of manganese is considered safe. Exposure through skin contact is not considered harmful, as inorganic manganese is poorly absorbed dermally.

The primary ways manganese enters the body are through eating and drinking (ingestion) and, especially in occupational settings, by breathing it in (inhalation).

While the primary concern for welders is the inhalation of manganese fumes, significant exposure could potentially occur through skin contact if they are handling specific organo-manganese compounds, though the risk from inorganic compounds is low.

No. Manganese from typical supplements is in an inorganic form that is very poorly absorbed through the skin. Any therapeutic benefit would only come from oral ingestion.

While some evidence suggests transdermal absorption of magnesium (often in chloride form) from highly concentrated topical applications might occur, research indicates that the skin's barrier prevents any significant dermal absorption of manganese, especially in its inorganic state.

Chronic overexposure to high levels of manganese, usually through inhalation, can lead to a neurological disorder called manganism, which has symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease.

If you have handled manganese dust or solutions, you should wash the affected area with soap and lukewarm water. For typical environmental exposure, no special action is needed beyond normal hygiene.