Skin Biopsy
What is a skin biopsy?
A skin biopsy is a procedure to remove cells or skin samples from your body for laboratory examination.
What will happen?
Depending on the biopsy site, you may be asked to change into a gown.
The site will be cleaned and the biopsy location may be marked.
You will be given a numbing medication so you will not feel the procedure.
Your doctor uses a circular tool to remove a small core of skin, including deeper layers (epidermis, dermis and superficial fat).
The entire procedure should take about 15 minutes.
What will you need to do after the procedure?
Leave your wound dressings in place for the rest of the day of the biopsy and keep them dry.
Starting the day after the biopsy, change out the dressing with band-aids daily or sooner if they become soiled. Except when changing dressings, keep the biopsy sites covered.
Showers are fine starting the day after the biopsy. Leave the band-aids in place while you shower and change them after you dry off.
During the time period of daily band-aid changes, do not soak in a bath or swim.
The average time for daily band-aid changes is 5 to 6 days but may last up to 3 weeks.
If you need to use anything to clean the wounds, hydrogen peroxide is recommended. If the wounds are fine (i.e., no signs of infection), all that is required is a daily band-aid change.
The wounds may or may not form a scab as they heal; either way is fine.
Continue to change the band-aids daily until there are no open wounds.
The numbing medication used for the biopsy will usually last for 1 to 2 hours after the procedure. After it wears off, you may have some mild, local soreness and tenderness at the biopsy sites over the next day or two. You may find regular Tylenol is helpful for the discomfort.
Refrain from doing extremely strenuous activity for the rest of the day of your biopsy (such as running or heavy lifting).
Once you are without the band-aid, the biopsy sites may look slightly red or darker than the rest of your skin. This discoloration will gradually fade and blend back with your normal skin color.
This fading process may take anywhere from a few months up to a year.
It is very rare for people to have any problems during the healing period. It is normal for the biopsy sites to bleed a little bit or drain pink fluid for a day or two after the biopsies. If the site does have excess bleeding, apply pressure for 2-3 minutes with a clean gauze.
Initial mild redness may be present around the skin biopsy sites. If an area later has an increased redness (sign of infection), you may use a topical antibiotic, i.e. Bacitracin or Polysporin® (Bacitracin and Polymyxin B) on the wounds as needed; apply with clean cotton swab or a clean finger. The sites should never drain pus.
If you do experience problems with significant bleeding, redness, infection, or other problems, call your doctor’s office.