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.
“Our practice philosophy is simple — to deliver the very best care we can in the very best way we can. To us, that means we make each and every patient feel welcomed from the moment that they walk in the door until they leave the office. It means that we listen to what the patient has to say and address those concerns. It means we give advice and recommend treatments based on our extensive training with leaders in the field, our wealth of personal experience, and our commitment to excellence. For our cosmetic patients, it means working with the patient to achieve results that look natural, not overdone or exaggerated. It means that we always strive to do the right thing for the patient, as we value very highly ethics, honesty, and integrity. It means we stand behind what we do and will do everything in our power to get the best results we can for the patient. It means we carefully select the highest quality staff to represent us and help us carry out these goals. Lastly and most importantly, it means that we treat the patient the way we would want ourselves to be treated, with respect and kindness. Because at the end of the day, without all of our loyal patients, we wouldn’t have a practice.”
With dozens of services, decades of experience, thousands of 5-star reviews, there's no one you can trust more with your skin care needs than the team at PotozkinMD.