Biopsy and Wound Care
What is a biopsy?
A biopsy removes a sample of cells from the surface of your skin. This sample can be examined in many ways to provide more information about your medical condition.
There are three main types of biopsies:
Shave biopsy – a doctor uses a sharp blade to remove a small section of the two top layers of skin (epidermis and superficial dermis)
Punch biopsy – a doctor uses a circular tool to use a small section of skin that can include the epidermis, dermis, and superficial fat (Pictured at the left).
Excisional biopsy – a doctor uses a scalpel to remove an entire section of skin down to the fat, including some of the normal appearing surrounding skin
A biopsy is done for purely diagnostic reason. This means that it may not completely remove the lesion or function as treatment.
Skin biopsies are generally a safe procedure, but complications can occur including: tenderness, bleeding, bruising, infection, and scarring.
A scar will result from any procedure that removes a sample of skin – the type of scar that forms depends on the type of biopsy and the way an individual’s skin heals:
-Biopsies on the neck or upper torso may result in more prominent, raised scars.
-The scar’s permanent appearance may not be evident until 1-2 years after your biopsy.
-Most areas will begin to heal within 2 weeks with the exception being the lower legs (this area takes 6-8 weeks to heal).
The sample obtained in the biopsy may rarely be insufficient to make a diagnosis. In these cases, a repeat biopsy is necessary to collect more tissue and establish a diagnosis.
Wound Care for a Biopsy
1) Clean the wound gently once to twice daily.
2) Wash your hands with soap and water before changing your dressing.
3) Remove the old dressing, and wash the biopsy site with warm water and mild, bland, non-fragranced soap (if the biopsy site in on the scalp, you may use your shampoo as long as it doesn’t burn or hurt, if this happens just use water alone).
4) Rinse the site well and pat dry with clean gauze or a tissue. Do not rub, poke, scratch or pick.
5) Cover the wound with ointment – vaseline or cerave. Do not let a scab form.
6) Cover the site with an adhesive bandage (like a Band-Aid) and continue until the wound has healed.
Signs of Infection
- Fire engine red color (tracking away from the site). Your site may have slightly red edges, and yellow matter inside the wound. This is what’s called fibrin and this is normal.
- Worsening swelling
- Worsening pain
- Thick yellow drainage (white-yellow fibrin may cover it, which is the “pre-skin”)
- Fevers or chills