Skin Biopsy / Scalp Biopsy

Biopsy is one of the minor surgical procedures frequently used in dermatology to reach a definitive diagnosis in certain skin and hair conditions.

During the procedure, the area is completely numbed with local anaesthesia and a very small tissue sample is taken from the affected skin. The sample is examined in a pathology laboratory using special methods, and findings that support or confirm the diagnosis are evaluated. The procedure is usually completed within 10–15 minutes, and one or more sutures may be placed where necessary.

Skin biopsy plays an important role where the diagnosis cannot be established with certainty, in distinguishing different skin conditions from one another, and in diagnosing certain skin cancers.

Scalp biopsy is an important diagnostic method in cases where the diagnosis remains unclear despite clinical examination, trichoscopy and hair analysis. It allows the correct diagnosis to be reached in many types of alopecia, particularly the cicatricial (permanent) alopecias. Because different alopecias require different treatments, confirming the diagnosis by biopsy where necessary is of great importance in establishing a correct and effective treatment plan.

Where required, a biopsy taken from the right site with the appropriate technique — with the pathology result evaluated together with the clinical findings — is one of the most important steps in reaching the correct diagnosis and planning effective treatment.