What is it used for?
A skin biopsy is used to help diagnose a variety of skin conditions including:
Skin disorders such as psoriasis and eczema
Bacterial or fungal infections of the skin
Skin cancer. A biopsy can confirm or rule out whether a suspicious mole or other growth is cancerous.
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. The most common types of skin cancer are basal cell and squamous cell cancers. These cancers rarely spread to other parts of the body and are usually curable with treatment. A third type of skin cancer is called melanoma. Melanoma is less common than the other two, but more dangerous because it's more likely to spread. Most skin cancer deaths are caused by melanoma.
A skin biopsy can help diagnose skin cancer in the early stages, when it's easier to treat.
