After completion of the skin biopsy, a dressing may be applied to the area. Please keep this on for 24 hours and keep the area dry.
It is normal to have mild redness and swelling at the biopsy site.
The day after your skin biopsy
At-home wound care starts the day after you’ve had a skin biopsy. While your nurse practitioner’s instructions may vary a bit, these are the basic steps you’ll follow:
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Remove the bandage gently.
- Clean your wound. Gently wash the wound and surrounding skin with mild soap and water. It’s important that the soap be mild. Fragrance-free also helps. Don’t use an antibacterial or deodorant soap.
- Rinse thoroughly. Gently let the water run over the wound. You want to thoroughly rinse away the soap.
- Pat the wound and the skin around the wound dry with a clean washcloth. You’ll need to apply a new bandage, so you want the area to be dry.
- Use petroleum jelly. Gently apply the petroleum jelly to the wound. This will keep the wound moist. A moist wound heals faster.
- Cover the wound with an adhesive bandage or sterile gauze and paper tape. Moist, covered wounds heal faster. Keeping the wound moist and covered also helps to avoid a scab.
Most wounds from a skin biopsy heal in 7 to 10 days. Biopsies in certain areas such as the lower legs usually take longer to heal.
Until the wound heals, you want to stay out of swimming pools, hot tubs, and other places where the wound would be immersed in water. This helps prevent infection. You can take a shower. After your shower, always care for the wound.
What if I have stiches?
If you have stitches, continue to repeat the above steps until your nurse practitioner removes your stitches and tells you to stop caring for your wound.
What to do when a skin biopsy wound itches?
As skin heals, it may itch. There are other reasons your wound may itch, which you can remedy:
- Wound is dry: When you remove the bandage, does the wound look dry? If yes, add a thicker layer of petroleum jelly to the wound.
- Allergic reaction or irritated skin: Itchy skin can also be a sign that you’ve developed an allergic reaction or irritated your skin. Here are a few things that you can try right away:
- If your skin itches and you’re using adhesive bandages, stop. Start using a non-stick pad and paper tape to cover the wound.
- If you’re using an antibiotic ointment, which isn’t recommended, stop. You may have developed an allergic reaction to the antibiotic ointment. Start using petroleum jelly instead.
What is normal?
Minor swelling, redness, or bruising on or around the wound is normal and will resolve in a few days.
What is not normal?
Worsening pain, increased swelling, warmth, drainage with pus, yellow or golden crusts, or fever are signs of an infection. If you develop any of these, send your nurse practitioner a message via our Patient Portal.
How about bleeding and pain?
- Bleeding: Occasionally the biopsy site will bleed after your leave the clinic. If this occurs, apply direct pressure to the wound for 10-20 minutes. If the wound is still bleeding after 20 minutes, send your nurse practitioner as message via our Patient Portal. This is essential if you’re taking a medication that can thin your blood, also known as an anticoagulant, like warfarin.
- Pain: It is normal to experience some discomfort after your biopsy. If you’re in pain, you can take acetaminophen. Another option is to place an ice pack over the bandage. The ice pack can help relieve any swelling that may be causing discomfort.
If the pain worsens, send your nurse practitioner a message via our Patient Portal.
Overall care
Where you had a wound, you’ll likely see red or brown discoloration. Sun protection can reduce this discoloration and help the scar fade faster. To protect your skin from the sun:
- Apply sunscreen to the area where you had the skin biopsy and to all skin that clothing won’t cover.
- Cover the area where you had a skin biopsy with clothing — or protect it with a wide-brimmed hat or shoes.
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