Suspicious Lesion Specialist

Save your skin from skin cancer and sun damage. Know your ABCDEs. 

It is important to check your skin for suspicious moles once a month and report anything unusual to your health care professional. Remember the ABCDE rule: 

• Asymmetry (one half of the mole doesn't match the other) 
• Border irregularity 
• Color that is not uniform 
• Diameter greater than 6mm (about the size of a pencil eraser) 
• Evolving size, shape or color. If you notice any CHANGE in size, shape or elevation of a mole, or experience any new symptom such as bleeding, itching or crusting; see your health care professional promptly. 

A skin biopsy is a procedure in which Doctor Botsford cuts and removes a small sample of skin that is concerning, to have it tested. This sample may help diagnose diseases such as skin cancer, infection, or other skin disorders. 

There are several types of skin biopsy, including:

• Shave biopsy: The procedure involved shaving a thin layer from the top of a lesion. 
• Punch biopsy: The procedure involves an instrument called a punch to remove a circular section through all layers of the lesion. 
• Excisional biopsy: This procedure uses a scalpel to take off the entire lesion. This method is used for smaller lesions.

Dr. Botsford will first cleanse the biopsy site, and then numb the skin by using an anesthetic (pain-relieving) injection. Once the skin is numb, the skin is then sampled using one of the above procedures. Shave biopsies do not usually need stitches, while punch, and excisional biopsies will sometimes be closed with sutures. These procedures are all done at Pure Skin.