Version July 2025
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What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care for a health problem.
What is a skin biopsy? — This is a procedure to check cells from the skin.
Skin biopsies can be done in a few different ways. Examples include:
●Shave biopsy – The doctor uses a special tool like a "curette" or scalpel to remove the top layer of skin. A curette is a small spoon-shaped tool with a tiny scoop or loop at the end.
●Punch biopsy – The doctor uses a special tool to remove a small, round piece of skin.
●Surgical biopsy – The doctor uses surgical tools to remove either a small piece or a larger area of skin for testing.
How long it will take you to recover, and what you need to do, depends on the type of biopsy you had.
How do I care for myself at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do after your biopsy. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
You should also:
●Take care of your biopsy site – You might have stitches, skin staples, surgical glue, or a special skin tape at the biopsy site.
•Keep the area dry and covered with a bandage for the first 1 to 2 days. Your doctor or nurse will tell you exactly how long to keep it dry.
•Once you no longer need to keep the area dry, gently wash it with soap and water once or twice a day. Do not put it underwater, such as in a bath, pool, or lake. This can slow healing and raise your chance of getting an infection.
•After you wash the area, pat it dry. Your doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to put an antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly on it. They will also tell you if you need to cover it with a bandage or gauze.
•If you have stitches or staples, you will need to have them taken out. Your doctor will usually want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks. Some stitches absorb on their own and do not need to be removed. If the doctor used skin glue or skin tape, it will fall off on its own. Do not pick at it or try to remove it yourself.
•Always wash your hands before and after you touch your biopsy site or bandage.
●Ice can help with pain and swelling – Put a cold gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables on the area every 1 to 2 hours, for 15 minutes each time. Put a thin towel between the ice (or other cold object) and your skin. Ice for at least 6 hours after the biopsy. It might help to ice longer, even up to 2 days.
●If you had a large biopsy, limit activities that could stretch the biopsy area.
●Call your doctor or make an appointment to talk about your biopsy results. The results are usually available within a few days to a week after the procedure.
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for advice if you have:
●A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills
●Drainage, redness, or swelling around the biopsy site
●Severe pain at the biopsy site
●Bleeding at the biopsy site that does not stop with pressure and ice, or that lasts longer than 24 hours
Patient education: Skin biopsy (The Basics)
Patient education: Skin warts (The Basics)
Patient education: Skin tags (acrochordon) (The Basics)
Patient education: Psoriasis (The Basics)
Patient education: Eczema (atopic dermatitis) (The Basics)
Patient education: Non-melanoma skin cancer (The Basics)
Patient education: Melanoma skin cancer (The Basics)
Patient education: Common warts, plantar warts, and flat warts (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Psoriasis (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Eczema (atopic dermatitis) (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Melanoma treatment; localized melanoma (Beyond the Basics)
