Biopsy Site Care

When we perform a biopsy, we take a small sample of your skin to send to the pathologist in order to obtain a diagnosis of a lesion or condition. A shaved biopsy does not require stitches. A punch biopsy, which is a deeper sample, does need stitches. Both require daily care. It is best to wash with either soap and water or a bit of hydrogen peroxide daily. We do not advise using topical antibiotics such as Neosporin, polysporin, or bacitracin because of potential allergic reaction.  Vaseline or Aquaphor are fine to apply after washing. The site should then be covered with a band-aid for at least 3 days. After that time, it may be left uncovered. For areas that is difficult to keep a band-aid in place – such as the lips, mouth, eyes, and scalp – Vaseline may be applied several times daily to keep the area moist.

It takes between 7 and 10 days to get biopsy results back. If your result is benign, it will be posted to your portal. You can call the office to obtain your password and login if you do not have one. If your biopsy is abnormal, Dr. Rencic will call to inform you of the result.