Anyone had a skin biopsy? I have a few ??s

[gritsar]

I had a skin biopsy done yesterday, along with another spot frozen off.

I really liked the APN (advanced practice nurse), but they only come down to a clinic here once every two weeks, from Hot Springs and I forgot to ask her a few questions.

Question 1: Do I need to keep the biopsied spot under a bandaid? I had it under a bandaid yesterday, but the bandaid came off in the night, stuck in my long hair......

It's just below my eye, so a bandaid is bothersome.

Question 2: Is it okay to start using moisturizer on both spots? The moistorizer would be either aveeno oatmeal creme or regular oil of olay.

TIA

 

[Elite Silkies]

Not sure about the bandaid, but I would not put any moisturizer on them just yet. I wouldn't want anything that could cause irritation. I would think that it would need air to heal. A bandaid would hold moisture in. Wish I had the answers for you.

 

[Julie08]

you can take the bandaid off actually it is better to let it "air out" as for cream I would probably stick to an anticeptic polysporin kind of thing.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Leave the band-aid off and apply triple antibiotic for a couple days and then you can use moisturizer if you wish. My father had several spots on his face taken off like that and that is what he did...except no moisturizer

 

[Jess N Jeff]

Quote:
I worked for a Dermatologist for 4 years and there are 2 schools of thought on this.

#1. Keep it covered with an over the counter antibiotic ointment to keep out dirt and to keep it from getting infected. Change bandage once a day and clean the area with mild soap and water or Hydrogen peroxide.

#2. Let it dry out and form a scab which is the bodies natural bandage. Don't pick at the scab.

Now, if you are worried about scarring, use a bandage and keep it moist. It keeps the scarring to a minimum. When you let a scab form your body starts a scarring process to protect the underlying tissues.

Don't put any moisturizers on, they can contain urea which promotes scarring.

If I were in your spot, I would keep an antibiotic ointment film over it(not a lot, just a small amount). This will keep it moist to minimize scarring and keep dirt off of it. clean once a day with MILD cleanser...no scrub at all.

Hope this helps.

 

[Yard full o' rocks]

I had the same thing done two years ago. I was advised to keep "antibiotic ointment" on the biopsied spot as well as where the spots were frozen off. The frozen spots actually caused me more difficulty than the biopsy. Several were on my face and ears and they seemed to crack and bleed easily...not sure you would want to risk getting moisturizer/bacteria into an open wound accidentally. Only time I used a bandaid was to help stop the bleeding

GOOD LUCK....

I go every year now (since I past 40) and she always finds something she wants to "remove"....better than the alternative I suppose

Scott

 

[gritsar]

Thanks y'all. That helps alot. We're out of neosporin, so I'll pick some up today. Skip the creme and bandaid.
Scott, you are exactly right. Born a redhead, fair skinned and grew up in the South. Had many, MANY sunburns as a child/teen, including a few that required medical treatment. I get every suspicious spot checked when I can.

 

[redhen]

Quote:
Same here... grew up in Florida and had some scary burns. I'm also fair and red hair..
I had a spot removed when i was a teen... it was fine..but i have a huge keloid scar from it.
I'd say..keep it moist.. the triple antibiotic ointment is a good idea... then when it starts to heal better use the lotion..
Good luck!

When do you get the tests back??

 

[keystonepaul]

seems like a good choice, my seven year old just had a mole removed and biopsied on his inner thigh- they told us option 1 from the dermatologist post- antibiotic cream and keep covered, cleaning it daily, reapplying antibiotic cream and bandaid, BUT it was on his inner thigh where it would be rubbing against the seam of his underwear and the inside of his pants. On your face, where it can stay relatively clean and not bothered by what you wear I think keeping antibiotic cream on it and open to the air is a good thought. Good luck. Keystonepaul

 

[Sunny the Hippie Chick]

I had a large lump (size of a dime) removed from my wrist (area where you wear a watch).

They took a large piece of skin for my biopsy. They had to use 14 sticthes to keep it closed. They wanted me to keep in covered with neosporin on it for the first 3 days. Then air it out. But continue to put neosporin on it about 3 times a day. If it felt like it was drying out or feeling irratated. Then I sprayed bactine on it.