Skin Biopsy – What is this about?

Skin Biopsy is a procedure to remove a sample of your skin (lesion) so it can be checked under a microscope. You may need a skin biopsy if you have a skin disease or abnormal changes in your skin.

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 blood disorders you have.
• Any surgeries you have had.
• Any medical conditions you have.

What are the risks?

Generally, this is a safe procedure. However, problems may occur, including:

• Infection.
• Bleeding.
• Allergic reaction to medicines.
• Scarring.

What happens before the procedure?

• 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.
• Follow instructions from your health care provider about how to care for your skin.
• Ask your health care provider how your biopsy site will be marked or identified.
• You may be given antibiotic medicine to prevent infection.

What happens during the procedure?

• To reduce your risk of infection:
  • Your health care team will wash or sanitize their hands.
  • Your skin will be washed with soap.
• You may be given a medicine to help you relax (sedative).
• You will be given a medicine to numb the area (local anesthetic).
• The method that your health care provider will use for your skin biopsy will depend on the type of skin problem you have. Options include:
  • 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 laboratory for examination.
• Your skin biopsy site will be watched to make sure that it stops bleeding.
• Do not drive for 24 hours if you received a sedative.

Skin Biopsy, Care After

Refer to this sheet in the next few weeks. These instructions provide you with information about caring for yourself after your procedure. Your health care provider may also give you more specific instructions. Your treatment has been planned according to current medical practices, but problems sometimes occur. Call your health care provider if you have any problems or questions after your procedure.

What can I expect after the procedure?

After the procedure, it is common to have:

• Soreness.
• Bruising.
• Itching.

Follow these instructions at home:

• Rest and then return to your normal activities as told by your health care provider.
• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Follow instructions from your health care provider about how to take care of your biopsy site. Make sure you:
  • Wash your hands with soap and water before you change your bandage (dressing). If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
  • Change your dressing as told by your health care provider.
  • Leave stitches (sutures), skin glue, or adhesive strips in place. These skin closures may need to stay in place for 2 weeks or longer. If adhesive strip edges start to loosen and curl up, you may trim the loose edges. Do not remove adhesive strips completely unless your health care provider tells you to do that. If the biopsy area bleeds, apply gentle pressure for 10 minutes.
• Check your biopsy site every day for signs of infection. Check for:
  • More redness, swelling, or pain.
  • More fluid or blood.
  • Warmth.
  • Pus or a bad smell.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• You have more redness, swelling, or pain around your biopsy site.
• You have more fluid or blood coming from your biopsy site.
• Your biopsy site feels warm to the touch.
• You have pus or a bad smell coming from your biopsy site.
• You have a fever.

Get help right away if:

• You have bleeding that does not stop with pressure or a dressing.