A skin biopsy involves taking samples of cells or skin from the surface of your body. Samples taken in a skin biopsy are examined to obtain information about your health condition.
Your doctor also uses a biopsy to diagnose or rule out some skin diseases. There are three main types of skin biopsy.
Shave Biopsy
The doctor uses a razor-like tool to remove a small section of the upper layers of the skin (the epidermis and part of the dermis).
Punch Biopsy
In this method, the doctor removes a small section of skin from the deeper layers of the skin (epidermis, dermis and superficial fat) using a round tool.
Excisional Biopsy
The doctor removes a swelling or abnormal skin with a small knife-like tool (scalpel). While doing this, an amount of the fatty part of the normal skin is also taken.
Why is Punch Biopsy Performed?
Skin biopsy is used to diagnose or rule out skin diseases. It can also be used to remove skin lesions. Skin biopsy helps in the diagnosis and treatment of skin-related diseases, as well as the treatment of the following conditions:
Actinic keratosis,
- Bullous pemphigoid and other conditions. blistering skin disorders,
- Dermatitis, psoriasis and other inflammatory skin diseases,
- Skin cancers including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma,
- Skin infections ,
- Skin tags,
- Suspicious moles or other growths,
- Such as warts.
Punch Biopsy What Are the Risks of?
Skin biopsy is generally a safe procedure, but the following complications may occur:
- Bleeding
- Bbruising
- Scarring
- Infection
- Such as an allergic reaction from topical antibiotics.
How Should You Prepare?
Before skin biopsy, tell your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- If you have any diagnosed bleeding disorder,
- If you have experienced excessive bleeding after other medical procedures,
- If you are taking blood thinners such as warfarin or heparin containing aspirin or aspirin-like substances,
- If you have a history of skin infections such as impetigo,
- Used after organ transplantation, used for diabetes. or if you are taking medications used to suppress the immune system, you should inform your doctor.
What to Expect?
Depending on the location of the skin biopsy, you should wear clean clothing. or you may be asked to take off your clothes. A doctor or nurse will clean the relevant area of skin before the biopsy is performed. The outline of the biopsy area may be marked on your skin with a surgical marker.
You will then receive a local anesthetic to numb the biopsy area. This medication is usually given by injection with a fine needle. The numbing medicine may cause a burning sensation on the skin for a few seconds. Afterwards, you should not feel any pain or discomfort during the skin biopsy as the biopsy area will be numb.
Depending on which type of skin biopsy will be applied to your skin during the skin biopsy, expectations from the procedure are different.
For a shave biopsy, the doctor uses a double-edged razor or scalpel to cut tissue. The depth of the incision varies depending on the type of biopsy and the body part being biopsied. A shave biopsy may cause bleeding. Bleeding is stopped by applying pressure to the bleeding area or applying a combination of topical medications.
For a punch biopsy or excisional biopsy, stitches may be necessary to close the wound because the procedure involves cutting the top layer of fatty skin under the skin. A dressing or an adhesive bandage is then applied to the biopsy forehead to protect the wound and prevent bleeding.
A skin biopsy usually takes 15 minutes total, including home care, dressing before the biopsy, and preparation time.
After Skin Biopsy
Your doctor may ask you not to remove the bandage on the biopsy area until the next day. Sometimes the biopsy site bleeds after you leave the hospital. This condition is higher in people using blood thinning medications. If bleeding occurs, apply direct pressure to the wound for 10 to 20 minutes. If bleeding continues, go to a place where you can get medical help.
All biopsies cause a small scar. In some people, these scars may show significant improvement. This risk increases if the biopsy is performed on the back, chest, neck or upper body. Initially, the scars are pink and may later turn white or sometimes brown. The scars are slowly fading.
Try not to hit anything in the biopsy area and avoid activities that will cause it to stretch. Tension on the skin may cause bleeding and enlargement of the wound.
Healing of the wound may take several weeks, but is usually completed within two months. Wounds on the legs and feet tend to heal more slowly than wounds in other parts of the body.
Care of the biopsy area during the healing process should be done as follows:
• Before touching the biopsy site. Wash your hands with soap and water.
• Wash the biopsy area with soap and water. If on the scalp, use shampoo.
• Rinse the area thoroughly and dry with a clean towel.
• Cover the skin with an adhesive bandage recommended for ventilation.
Continue to care for the biopsy site until the stitches are removed. Since shave biopsies do not require stitches in the wound, you should continue to care for the wound until the skin heals.
- Results
After the biopsy, your doctor sends a sample to the laboratory for testing. Depending on the skin condition, biopsy type, and laboratory procedures, results may take a few days or a few weeks. Biopsy results for metabolic or genetic testing may take several months or longer.
Your doctor will share the results of your reports with you. Have a family member with you as you may not be able to think of questions about the findings and treatment plan.
Write down the questions you want to ask your doctor. Do not hesitate to ask questions that you do not understand or are curious about. You may also want to add the following questions to the questions you want to ask.
- Based on these results, what are the next steps to take regarding treatment?
- What kind of follow-up is needed?
- Results of this test� � Could there be factors that may have affected or changed it?
- Is it necessary to repeat the test at some points?
- If the skin biopsy indicates skin cancer, has all the cancerous tissue been removed or is additional treatment required?
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