The Facts About Skin Biopsies

A skin biopsy is a very useful tool used by your podiatrist. It helps to determine what type of skin condition you are dealing with and allows the podiatrist to figure out what the best form of treatment would be for you.

There are two different types of biopsy that are commonly used. Regardless of which method, the biopsy will be done using sterile, clean, conditions. The sample will then be placed in a container and sealed. There is a punch biopsy and a shave biopsy. A punch biopsy uses a device that takes a small amount of the affected area for examination. Your skin will be numbed so that you won’t feel the part that is being removed and then a few stitches will be put in to close up the incision. The other type of biopsy is a shave biopsy where part of the affected area is shaved off after numbing the area and a Band-Aid is applied. These two different techniques are used for different conditions. A punch biopsy is typically used for flat lesions while shave biopsies are used for raised lesions.

A biopsy is useful when the treatment being used is not working and it is difficult to determine what the cause is. It is also beneficial when your doctor thinks that a particular skin lesion looks suspicious, meaning that the edges are jagged, it has a non-symmetrical shape, or you notice that the lesion has been changing in size or shape. If you have noticed any of these characteristics associated with a skin lesion on your feet or legs, and you live in the Boston, Westford or Wilmington, Massachusetts or the Salem, New Hampshire area, our office staff would be more than happy to help  you determine what is causing your skin lesion. Although we most often hear of biopsy being associated with cancer, this is not its only usage. It is often used for deciphering between conditions that present with the same symptoms. Once the biopsy is taken, it will be sent off to a pathology lab. The pathology lab will examine the sample and send back a pathology report with the diagnosis. At this point the treatment plan that is best for you will be determined. 

There are many issues that occur on the skin of your legs and feet. Some of the ones you have probably heard before are athlete’s foot, psoriasis, dermatitis and skin cancer. The problem with many of these conditions is that they present with very similar symptoms. If present, there are some characteristics that set them apart from one another, but if you do not show these signs, then it may be difficult to determine exactly what you have without a biopsy. Non-invasive methods are always preferred because they provide you with the least discomfort possible. So, depending on the situation, you will usually be given medication first, to try and clear up your condition. If this does not work though, we will go ahead and do a biopsy and get you headed down the right track.