Skin absorption refers to:

Skin absorption refers to:

• A. the evaporation of a chemical from the surface of the skin
• B. the transportation of a chemical from the surface of the skin into the body
• C. skin surface chemical reaction
• D. the color change of skin due to chemical contact

Answer: (B)

Skin absorption is the movement of a chemical from the surface through the skin into the body, crossing the barrier to reach the bloodstream or surrounding tissues. This uptake depends on factors like the chemical’s properties (lipid solubility, molecular size, charge), how concentrated it is, how long it stays on the skin, and the skin’s condition (intact, damaged, or hydrated). It matters because dermal exposure can contribute to the overall dose a person receives. The other ideas describe processes that don’t involve entry into the body: evaporation is the chemical leaving the skin into the air, a surface reaction is a change at the skin surface without systemic uptake, and a color change is just a visible effect, not absorption.

Skin absorption is the movement of a chemical from the surface through the skin into the body, crossing the barrier to reach the bloodstream or surrounding tissues. This uptake depends on factors like the chemical’s properties (lipid solubility, molecular size, charge), how concentrated it is, how long it stays on the skin, and the skin’s condition (intact, damaged, or hydrated). It matters because dermal exposure can contribute to the overall dose a person receives.

The other ideas describe processes that don’t involve entry into the body: evaporation is the chemical leaving the skin into the air, a surface reaction is a change at the skin surface without systemic uptake, and a color change is just a visible effect, not absorption.