Skin biopsy is a safe, easy, and outpatient procedure of diagnostic and academic relevance.

There are various methods of performing skin biopsy depending on the size of the lesion, suspected clinical diagnosis, and site of the lesion.

There are various techniques of performing a skin biopsy and any particular technique chosen is based on the type of lesion, site of lesion

The common techniques used for skin biopsy are listed here:

• • Punch Biopsy: This is the most widely used technique for a skin biopsy. The lesion or area to be biopsied is punched out using a disposable punch of varying sizes. The size of the defect can be compared to a punch hole made in the paper for filing it.
  • Shave biopsy: Here, the portion of the lesion that is above the level of the surrounding skin is shaved off using a blade. Superficial lesions can be biopsied in this manner.

 

• Incisional Biopsy: This involves cutting out a part of the lesion in question with a scalpel blade and suturing the defect.

• Excisional Biopsy: In this method, the entire lesion is completely removed and sent for biopsy.

 

Skin biopsy is a fairly simple and almost painless procedure as only a small tissue is what is needed usually and it is done under local anesthesia so the patient is very comfortable. 

In majority of the cases the dressing remains for 2-3 days after which only an antibiotic ointment is to be applied on the biopsy wound until it heals.