BOULDER DERMATOLOGY

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Skin Biopsy

Skin is the most exposed organ of the body. Because of that, our skin encounters more contact with disease, developments, growths, rashes, and other forms of reactions to all sorts of things. With so many factors causing a possible reaction, it’s difficult to know exactly why your skin is reacting the way that it is. It could be a rash from allergies to something that you brushed up against, cancerous cells building up or an infection that is spreading quickly for some unknown reason.

In the times that you’re unsure of what’s happening to your skin, or more importantly, why, you can count on the team of dermatologists at Azeal Dermatology Institute in Boulder.

What Will a Skin Biopsy Do?

Because there are so many different reactions that our skin has, we conduct skin biopsies to determine if there is a serious problem and what it may be. Being able to determine what the problem is allows for us to proceed with determining why the problem is happening. Once we’ve figured out what the issue is, we can then move forward with determining which treatment will be best suited.

What Happens During a Skin Biopsy?

While skin biopsies may be intimidating, they are not a difficult procedure at all. We will start by scraping a sample of the skin that is in question and place it in a solution. The solution that we use helps us determine if there is an issue with the skin and what the problem is. Once we’ve determined what it is that is happening with your skin, we provide you with the information discovered, and progress with the treatment that best suits your diagnosis.

There are several different types of skin biopsy, including:

  • Shave Biopsy: A thin layer of skin is shaved from the top of the lesion.
  • Punch Biopsy: An instrument called a punch is used to remove a circular section through all layers of the lesion.
  • Excisional Biopsy: A scalpel is used to take off the entire lesion, this method is used for smaller lesions.
  • Incisional Biopsy: A scalpel is used to remove a small sample of a large lesion.

Depending on the lesion and the problem you are experiencing with your skin, the type of biopsy we use will differ. Depending on the type of biopsy you get, you may experience different effects after the procedure. Some biopsies, depending on how much skin is removed, may require stitches while others may only need adhesive steri-strips. A small scar may form in this area.

While this may not sound like a procedure that you want, it could be extremely important and help our dermatologists diagnose a bigger problem. Getting a skin biopsy could allow us to detect a more serious skin condition early on and be able to treat it better.

Don’t let any skin issues go without a diagnosis. There are certain issues that could become life threatening if left uncared for. Schedule your appointment with Azeal Dermatology Institute in Boulder today and get your skin taken care of.

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