Skin Biopsy

A skin biopsy is a procedure to remove a sample of your skin so that it can be checked for any disease. You may need a skin biopsy if you have a skin disease or abnormal changes on your skin (lesion).

Tell a health care provider about:

• Any allergies you have.
• All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
• Any problems you or family members have had with anesthetic medicines.
• Any bleeding problems you have.
• Any surgeries you have had.
• Any medical conditions you have.
• Whether you are pregnant or may be pregnant.

What are the risks?

• Bleeding.
• Infection.
• Scarring.
• Allergic reaction to anesthetics, surgical materials, or ointments.

What happens before the procedure?

Medicines

• Ask your health care provider about:
  • Changing or stopping your regular medicines. This is especially important if you are taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.
  • Taking medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your blood. Do not take these medicines unless your health care provider tells you to take them.
  • Taking over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbs, and supplements.

General instructions

• Follow instructions from your health care provider about eating or drinking restrictions.
• Ask your health care provider:
  • How your surgery site will be marked.
  • What steps will be taken to help prevent infection. These steps may include:
    • Removing hair at the surgery site.
    • Washing skin with a germ-killing soap.
    • Taking antibiotic medicine.
• Ask your health care provider if you will need someone to take you home from the hospital or clinic after the procedure.

What happens during the procedure?

• You may be given medicine to numb the area (local anesthetic).
• Your health care provider will take a sample using one of these steps, depending on the type of skin problem that you have:
  • Shave biopsy. Your health care provider will shave away layers of your skin lesion with a sharp blade. After shaving, a gel or ointment may be used to control bleeding.
  • Punch biopsy. Your health care provider will use a tool to remove all or part of the lesion. This leaves a small hole about the width of a pencil eraser. The area may be covered with a gel or ointment.
  • Excisional or incisional biopsy. Your health care provider will use a surgical blade to remove all or part of your lesion.
• Your skin biopsy site may be closed with stitches (sutures).
• A bandage (dressing) will be applied.

The procedure may vary among health care providers and hospitals.

What happens after the procedure?

• Your skin sample will be sent to a lab for tests.
• Your skin biopsy site will be watched to make sure that it stops bleeding.
• You will be given instructions on how to care for your biopsy site.
• It is up to you to get the results of your procedure. Ask your health care provider, or the department that is doing the procedure, when your results will be ready.

Summary

• A skin biopsy is a procedure to remove a sample of your skin (lesion) so that it can be checked under a microscope.
• Tell a health care provider about your medical history and all medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
• Before the procedure, ask your health care provider about changing or stopping your regular medicines.
• During the procedure, your health care provider will take a skin sample from the area where you have the skin problem.
• After the procedure, your skin sample will be sent to a laboratory for testing.