Wound Care Instructions Post Biopsy: How to Promote Healing and Prevent Infection

January 27, 2025

Skin biopsies may be required when a dermatologist finds irregular areas of skin that indicate potential for health issues. While biopsies may be necessary to diagnose skin conditions like skin cancer and whole-body health concerns, they still cause an injury to skin that needs to be cared for properly to ensure skin heals well. According to Dr. Emily Nesbitt of U.S. Dermatology Partners Denver and Lakewood, “When people hear they need a biopsy, they are usually worried about the potential concern that leads to the biopsy. This worry means most people don’t even think about how the biopsy site heals. It’s important to care for the damaged skin to ensure it heals completely.” In this blog, Dr. Nesbitt talks through proper wound care instructions post biopsy and provides tips to promote healing and prevent infection.

How to Care for Your Wound Post Biopsy

When it comes to post biopsy wound care, Dr. Nesbitt says, “Most people overthink caring for their skin after a biopsy. A simple, three-step care routine that includes cleaning, moisturizing, and bandaging is more than adequate to support skin as it heals post biopsy.” Below, Dr. Nesbitt outlines a recommended routine for wound care after biopsy that should be performed at least once a day:

  • Clean the wound – use a gentle soap and water to completely clean the surgical site. Rinse away soap completely as soap left in the wound can cause complications and skin irritation. Don’t rub at skin when cleansing or drying. Instead, cleanse using gentle motions, rinse carefully, and pat dry.
  • Apply emollient moisturizer – emollient moisturizers attract moisture to skin, and while they aren’t as heavy as occlusive moisturizers that create a solid barrier, they are thick enough to fill in any gaps in skin’s natural protective barrier. In addition to emollients, petrolatum (petroleum jelly) is often recommended because it’s an occlusive that also has emollient properties, so it protects the skin as well as improving hydration.
  • Apply bandages – use a clean, non-stick bandage to cover the wound. It should be changed at least once a day. It may need to be changed more often if the biopsy is done on hands, face, bends in the body, and other areas where the bandage is likely to be loosened, rubbed, bunched, or soiled throughout the day.

Managing Itching and Irritation

As skin heals, it may be dry and exposure to latex and other irritants following biopsy frequently leads to itching and skin irritation. Applying additional petroleum jelly or another emollient moisturizer alleviates itching skin for many patients. For others, itching caused by an allergic response to bandaging and other products used during aftercare may require a change in how the wound is cared for. In most cases, switching to sterile, non-stick gauze and paper tape rather than latex or other potentially irritating bandaging materials is adequate. As the allergic response subsides, it may be helpful to apply additional moisturizer and use cold compresses periodically to alleviate itch.

Dos and Don’ts of Post-Biopsy Wound Care

You may feel overwhelmed or start stressing about healing following biopsy, but it’s really as simple as following a few dos and don’ts for wound care products and tips after biopsy:

Do

  • Clean the wound with mild soap and water. This reduces risk for infection, removes dead skin cells, and generally keeps skin healthy and promotes healing.
  • Keep the wound moist with petrolatum or an emollient moisturizer. This helps to seal in moisture to keep skin soft, which reduces risk for scarring. The moisture barrier of skin is strengthened by emollients protecting and promoting wound healing while the emollient properties attract and retain moisture beneath skin’s surface.
  • Cover the wound with a clean bandage daily. This prevents any foreign matter from entering the wound, leading to infection or inflammation. Bandaging may also stop bleeding and minimize bruising and swelling.

Don’t

  • Don’t use antibacterial ointments like Neosporin, as it can cause allergic reactions in some. Even if it doesn’t lead to an allergic response, these types of ointments are meant for surface-level cuts and scrapes. Biopsy wounds can be much deeper and taken from skin that is damaged or irregular, increasing the risk of an adverse response.
  • Don’t use hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol, as these can slow healing. It may seem counterintuitive, but hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol placed on biopsy wounds may actually slow healing. As the skin heals, it creates scabs, forms blood clots, and goes through other protective processes. Hydrogen peroxide and rubbing alcohol can interfere with the body’s natural healing process, making it take longer for skin to heal.
  • Don’t pick at the wound. When scabs or dry skin form around a wound, don’t pick at them. This exposes the sensitive, damaged skin to potentially harmful bacteria and other foreign material that cause infection and inflammation. It also reopens the wound and can increase risk for scarring as skin takes longer to heal.
  • Don’t let the wound dry out. Instead of picking at dry areas around the biopsy wound or picking away scabs, use moisturizers to keep skin soft.

When to Call Your Dermatologist

In most cases, following aftercare instructions and keeping wounds clean and hydrated is enough to allow them to heal well on their own. However, there are some situations where it’s beneficial to reach out to your dermatologist. Signs that you may need to consult a dermatologist during skin biopsy healing include:

  • Increased redness – when skin surrounding the wound becomes red or changes color, it can be indicative of infection, severe damage to skin, blocked blood flow, and other more serious concerns.
  • Swelling – inflammation around a round may indicate fluid retention, blood pooling, allergic reaction, or infection.
  • Higher levels of pain – if pain increases instead of abating as the wound heals, it can be sign of more serious underlying issues and should be examined.
  • Other signs of infection – swelling, redness, and increasing pain are all signs of infection. Other signs include heat around the wound, tingling, and fever among others.
  • Potential allergic response – itching, burning, tingling, and swelling can all be signs of allergic response. This can happen due to environmental irritants, but it’s common after any surgical procedure, including biopsy, because skin is exposed to materials like latex bandages that are extremely common allergens as well as ointments and other products that are all known skin irritants. Inflammation and irritation caused by an allergic response can make it take longer for skin to heal.
  • Concerns about scarring – if you’re concerned about the progress of wound healing or you want to minimize risk for scarring, dermatologists can help you care for skin and plan for possible treatments to prevent scar tissue formation or reduce the appearance of scarring after it forms.

Maintain Skin Health for Complete Wound Recovery

According to Dr. Nesbitt, “Keeping skin clean and hydrated is essential throughout the healing process. If you’re ever in doubt or have questions about how to keep skin healthy during wound recovery following a biopsy, work with a dermatologist. In addition to offering tips to help wounds heal more quickly, dermatologists also provide treatment and product recommendations to prevent or significantly reduce the extent of scarring.”

Schedule a Dermatologic Consultation

Whether you’re concerned about the way a wound is healing post biopsy or want to consult with a dermatologist after a surgery or other injury to ensure skin heals properly, don’t hesitate to reach out to the U.S. Dermatology Partners Team by completing the online scheduling request. Our knowledgeable dermatologists can help you achieve your skincare goals and improve overall skin health.

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