Skin Biopsy

A skin biopsy is a procedure in which a doctor cuts and removes a small sample of skin to have it tested. This sample may help your doctor diagnose skin diseases and implement the right treatment. Though the term ‘biopsy’ is linked to cancer by common people due to its popularity in diagnosing cancers of various organs, it is equally helpful in diagnosing other skin diseases like psoriasis, eczema, lichen planus etc. Skin biopsy can be performed by different methods like shave biopsy, punch biopsy, excisional biopsy and incisional biopsy. The resultant sample is processed and sent to a pathologist or a dermato-pathologist for evaluation under microscope. A report is generally generated by two weeks, whose findings aid the dermatologist confirm his diagnosis. Therefore in some diseases, performing a skin biopsy may be extremely important for implementing the right treatment.