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 diseases such as skin cancer, infection, or other skin disorders.

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There are several types of skin biopsy, including:

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• Shave biopsy: The doctor shaves a thin layer from the top or around a lesion.

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• Punch biopsy: The doctor uses an instrument called a punch to remove a circular section through all layers of the lesion.

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• Excisional biopsy: The doctor uses a scalpel to take off the entire lesion. This method is used for smaller lesions.

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• Incisional biopsy: The doctor uses a scalpel to remove a small sample of a large lesion.

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The doctor will first cleanse the biopsy site, and then numb the skin by using an anaesthetic (pain-relieving) injection. The skin is then sampled using one of the above procedures.

The tissue is processed, and a pathologist examines the skin biopsy sample under a microscope to determine if there is any disease. The results usually come back within 4 -5 days.