Skin Biopsy

Most people don’t need to prepare to have a skin biopsy, but if you are taking certain medications, or have underlying medical conditions, your dermatologist will advise you of any special considerations prior to your appointment. It is important to follow any instructions you are given.

Before a biopsy, your skin will be numbed with a local anaesthetic. You are awake during the procedure, and the dermatologist will check to ensure you do not feel anything. Once the skin is numb, the area to be excised (removed) is disinfected, then cut out with a sterile surgical knife.

When the dermatologist has finished removing the tissue, the skin may be stitched back together, and the wound will be dressed with the appropriate dressings, and the skin sample will be sent to a specialist laboratory for testing.

You will be able to go home the same day and will receive information on follow-up care, which may include applying cream or taking antibiotic tablets.

It is essential that you adhere to the instructions of the dermatologist to ensure proper healing – even if you feel well, you must follow this guidance to the letter. There are also some over-the-counter medications that need to be avoided following a biopsy, as taking them can cause complications.

You will be given all the information from the dermatologist on the day. You may have to return to the clinic to have your dressings changed, or stitches removed, unless the dermatologist has used stitches that dissolve. Once the results of the histopathology have been received and checked by the dermatologist, you may need to have a follow-up appointment so that the dermatologist can inform you of the outcome and let you know the next steps.

A biopsy will commonly leave a scar; however, depending on your age, the location, and how your skin usually scars, it may be more or less visible. Most scars take time to fully heal and blend in with the surrounding skin.

Very occasionally, if scarring is abnormal, it can result in large, raised scars – for example, a hypertrophic scar, which is caused by the body overproducing collagen during the healing process; or a keloid scar, which is the result of the overgrowth of scar tissue. Once the wound is fully healed, the appearance of keloid scarring can be treated by the dermatologist, but they are harmless.

Some lifestyle factors, such as smoking, can affect wound healing, and can even cause irregular scarring or more serious complications, so while it is best for your health not to smoke at all, it is essential that you heed the advice of your dermatologist in the weeks prior to, and after a biopsy.

As with all surgery, there is a small risk of complications, such as nerve damage or an allergic reaction to the anaesthetic or sutures. These risks will be explained by the dermatologist, who is the best trained and qualified person to avoid these events.

Following the biopsy, it is possible that you may experience complications such as bleeding, infection, swelling, or reopening of the incision.

It is important to contact the clinic if you are experiencing any of these complications or unexpected pain or discomfort, whether they present immediately in the days following the operation, or weeks on from the biopsy. In the rare event that you need care urgently and cannot contact the clinic, you should go to hospital, and if necessary, dial 999.