Skin Biopsy
Accurate diagnosis is key to effective skin cancer care.
At Dermadocs Skin Cancer Clinic in Parkside, Adelaide, our experienced clinicians offer expert skin biopsy services to confirm whether a suspicious mole or lesion is cancerous and guide your personalised treatment plan.
A skin biopsy is a medical procedure in which a small sample of skin tissue is removed and analysed under a microscope by a specialist pathologist to determine the nature of a suspicious skin lesion. This test can confirm or rule out conditions such as melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, as well as some non-cancerous skin disorders.
During the procedure, local anaesthesia is used so the site is numb and the biopsy itself should cause only minimal discomfort.
Your clinician may recommend a skin biopsy if, during a clinical skin check or targeted exam, a lesion appears: • New or rapidly changing • Irregular in shape, size or colour • Unusual in appearance compared with other moles • Persistent, bleeding or non-healing
Histopathology support is an essential part of accurate skin cancer diagnosis and treatment planning at Dermadocs Skin Cancer Clinic in Parkside, Adelaide.
After skin cancer screening, biopsy or treatment, diagnostic follow-up is essential for ensuring your skin health is properly managed.
Once your biopsy results have been reviewed:
Benign (non-cancerous) — No cancer treatment needed, but monitoring may continue.
Pre-cancerous — Further treatment might be recommended to prevent progression.
Cancerous — Your clinician will discuss treatment options and next steps, which may include wider excision or referral to a specialist surgeon.
Most patients experience minimal discomfort because local anaesthesia numbs the area.
Results typically return in approximately 1–2 weeks.
All biopsies can leave a small scar — the size depends on the type of biopsy and location on the body.
