A skin biopsy is a procedure performed by your dermatologist when they need to remove skin cell samples to send off to the lab for testing. Skin cells are examined and tested for certain types of skin conditions. Other times it might simply be a removal procedure of unhealthy or abnormal tissue.
A skin biopsy can test and diagnose conditions and diseases such as:
There are three main types of skin biopsy that may be performed depending on your unique skin condition:
During your visit at PotozkinMD, we will be able to walk you through our assessment of your skin issue and all of the detailed steps of how testing and diagnosis will go. We will tell you anything you need to know in regards to preparation, what to expect during the procedure, and how to care for the area after your treatment is completed.
You will be given a local anesthetic to numb the treatment area to make you comfortable during the treatment. The numbing medication is usually given by a tiny needle into the targeted area to make sure it numbs effectively down through the inner layers of the skin and into the fatty tissue. You shouldn’t feel any discomfort or pain during the procedure.
From preparation time all the way through dressing the wound, a biopsy usually takes less than 15 minutes. It’s relatively a quick and simple procedure, and you will be sent home with instructions on how to care for the treatment area afterwards.
How long it will take to get the results back will depend on what type of skin conditions are being tested for. Typically it will take up to several days, and in some really unique cases, a bit longer.
Sometimes a C&E (curettage and electrodesiccation), a.k.a. “scrape and burn” procedure may be recommended to treat certain types of skin cancers if detected. Your dermatologist will scrape away the cancerous tissue and use an electrical current to dry out and coagulate the tissue.
C&E can be used if you are diagnosed with certain, non-invasive forms of basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer. These types of cancer are thin, small, and have well-defined borders.
Our team is here for you every step of the way when it comes to assessing, diagnosing, and treating any type of skin condition you may be experiencing.
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