Have Your Skin Checked by a Professional
Skin cancer is very common and it can impact the lives of adults of all ages, making it crucial that you’re aware of what to look out for to identify it. Moles, birthmarks, and skin lesions can all be signs of skin cancer, and only a skin biopsy can say for sure.
What is a Skin Biopsy?
A skin biopsy is a series of tests that will be performed on a sample of your skin to determine whether or not you have any medical conditions affecting it. The process is simple, fast, and effective, giving patients answers within a couple of weeks, and often putting their minds at rest about the state of their skin.
What Does a Skin Biopsy Treat?
In most cases, a skin biopsy will be used to check a specific part of your skin for signs of conditions like cancer. Moles and other skin imperfections can be an indication that someone has cancer, but they can also be completely harmless, and their physical appearance isn’t enough to tell you what you’re dealing with. Once a biopsy has been performed, your team will be able to take your results and create a customized treatment plan for you.
How Does a Biopsy Work?
Skin biopsies have been designed to be simple for patients. Your doctor will administer a localized anesthetic to numb a portion of your skin before proceeding to remove a sample. This sample will then be passed onto a pathologist with the skills to look for diseases like cancer. Once their tests are complete, you will be called back to your doctor to discuss the results.
How Should I Prepare for My Treatment?
Preparing for a skin biopsy is as simple as making sure that your skin is clean before you go to the doctors. It will also be wise to make sure that you eat something before you visit, ensuring that you can keep a clear head once you leave. Depending on the location of the skin being removed, you may need to ask someone to help you to get home once the biopsy has been performed.
How Long Will My Treatment Last?
Your appointment to have a sample taken will usually take less than an hour or two, but it will take longer for your pathologist to come back with results. In most cases, this will be between 5 and 10 days, though it can take longer in some cases. A skin biopsy will usually be a reactive treatment following a skin cancer screening.
Is There Any Downtime?
While the procedure itself won’t take much time, you will be left with a wound that could take some time to heal. The impact this has will depend on the location of the sample and the way that you use your body, but most people find that they can get back to normal life within a few days of their biopsy.