Discovering an unusual spot or change in your skin can be a source of anxiety and many questions.
“Is it serious?”
“Should I be worried?”
“What happens next?”
These are very common concerns, but often, skin spots are completely benign. However, it’s always better to get a professional opinion from a board-certified dermatologist to ensure it’s not skin cancer, which affects 1 in 5 adults by the age of 70.
Working with a dermatologist ensures that any precancerous or cancerous spots are caught in their earliest stages. Even malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, has a 99% 5-year relative survival rate if treated before it has spread beyond the skin where it first developed.
If your dermatologist suspects that a mole or lesion might be cancerous, they’ll perform an outpatient procedure called a skin biopsy. During this procedure, they take a sample of the affected tissue to test for cancerous cells, allowing for faster diagnosis and a more optimistic prognosis.
Today, we’ll explain what to expect during a skin biopsy, from preparing for your appointment to understanding your results so you can feel informed about what may lie ahead.
What Is a Skin Biopsy?
Your skin is a living, evolving organ, and changes in the appearance or texture of moles or lesions can signal underlying issues. Skin biopsies identify whether a skin anomaly, typically an unusual mole or lesion, is benign or cancerous, offering more definitive answers about a suspicious spot when an examination alone can’t provide a diagnosis.
The method that your doctor uses during the biopsy depends on the size and location of the spot and how deep the tissue sample needs to be:
Shave Biopsy
A shave biopsy involves your dermatologist using a sharp tool to shave off the top layers of skin. This method is often used for lesions that protrude above the skin surface, such as moles or raised growths. The procedure is quick, and because it typically involves only the upper layers of the skin, it heals rapidly with minimal scarring.
Punch Biopsy
In a punch biopsy, the doctor will take a sample using a circular tool– similar to a tiny cookie cutter– to remove a small cylinder of skin, including the deeper layers down to the subcutaneous fat. This type of biopsy is required if your dermatologist suspects that the cancerous cells are below the skin’s surface layers.
Because of the depth of this form of biopsy, you’ll likely require a couple of stitches to close the wound.
Excisional Biopsy
If your dermatologist suspects that a skin spot is malignant, they may perform an excisional biopsy, removing the entire lesion along with a certain amount of healthy skin to ensure that all cancerous cells are removed.
Like the punch biopsy, an excisional biopsy’s size typically requires stitches to keep the wound closed as it heals.
During the Procedure
Biopsies can be uncomfortable and cause anxiety, but your dermatologist will take measures to ensure that you feel as little pain as possible while they perform this life-saving procedure. Here’s what you can expect on the day you attend your appointment:
- Your dermatologist cleans the biopsy site with an antiseptic solution to reduce the risk of infection.
- To minimize discomfort, a local anesthetic will be applied around the lesion to numb the skin. You’ll feel a slight prick during the injection, but once the anesthetic kicks in, you’ll only feel slight pressure during the biopsy.
- The dermatologist performs a shave, punch, or excisional biopsy, removing the tissue sample and preparing it for further examination.
- Once the biopsy is complete, the doctor will place stitches, if needed, and then apply a sterile dressing to the site. You’ll also receive specific instructions for keeping the wound clean and dry while it’s healing.
- As the anesthesia wears off, you may feel some soreness at the biopsy site, manageable with OTC pain relievers. Check with your doctor about their recommendations for specific medications.
The entire biopsy only takes a few minutes, and you can go home shortly after it’s over. Your doctor will provide instructions for follow-up appointments to remove the stitches and/or discuss the biopsy results.
What Your Biopsy Results Mean
Waiting to hear back about the results of your skin biopsy can be very stressful, but depending on the laboratory, results can take anywhere from a few days to two weeks. It isn’t easy when your health is in question, but patience is critical.
Once you do get your results, they fall broadly into a few different categories:
- Benign: Skin conditions that pose no serious health risk, like warts and skin tags. Often, no further treatment is needed.
- Precancerous: Spots that are not cancerous but could become cancerous over time, like actinic keratosis and dysplastic nevi. These types of spots are typically removed to stop their progression.
- Cancerous: Confirmation of the presence of skin cancer, such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or melanoma. Skin cancers are slow-growing, and your doctor will work with you to create a treatment plan as soon as possible if the biopsy results indicate cancerous cells.
Final Thoughts
We cannot stress enough the importance of early detection. Not only should you see your dermatologist annually for comprehensive exams, but you should also do regular self-checks for new, growing, changing, or irregular moles.
As we move into Skin Cancer Awareness Month in April and Melanoma Awareness Month in May, the skincare experts at Advanced Dermatology & Cosmetic Institute will keep you informed with a comprehensive collection of articles covering everything you need to know about detecting, preventing, and treating skin cancer. Stay tuned for more, and schedule your annual skin examination today by calling at 952-915-6000 extension 1
