Ever Had A Shave Biopsy For A Mole? Can We Talk?

[Christine]

I had a shave biopsy for a suspicious spot. It was exactly 16 days ago. I have had shave biopsies before and have had very little trouble with them.

This one, however, is driving me nuts.

I have spoken to the dermatologist about it this past Thursday and they weren't too concerned unless it is oozing and the red is spreading or it is getting worse instead of better. So, they didn't want to see me.

So, this thing was removed from my upper arm, kind of in the bicep area. It is a somewhat fleshy area as I'm not muscular. My previous biopsies have been on the face and back.

First issue is that I am allergic to the adhesive on most bandaids so beside dealing with the biopsy itself, I had a major allergic reaction to the bandaid that the derm used. I've had minor ones to the Nexcare bandaids that I had been using. After 10 days I had to fully stop bandaids and go to fabric tape and non-stick pads. But the adhesive did not touch the biopsy area.

It is as red as the day after he cut it. The center "hole" is filling in some and is smaller so I know it is improving, but the area that has healed is VERY red, almost like an allergic reaction. I tend to get very red anyway with any wound so some of that redness is not surprising. It itches too.

I've googled "shave biopsy" and it appears the thing should be fairly well healed in 5-10 days but that isn't happening here. Derm seemed non-plussed about it.

So, has anyone else had a hard time with these? If you did, it would make me feel a lot better to hear about it...

Oh and I'm also allergic to neosporin so I can't do anything like that. My derm didn't recommend it anyway, they like people to use straight vaseline on it.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Nope. When I have my moles biopsied they just remove them competely. Is there a reason they did the shave as opposed to complete removal?

 

[Nickimouse]

My husband had a biopsy on his back and it seemed to take a little longer to heal than expected. The "hole" ,I guess understandably ,takes longer than a smooth cut. This was late spring and on the first day the doctor said he could go back in the pool he did. I worried he wasn't keeping it dry enough but it eventually healed.

Sorry you have to deal with this. My husband said it got very itchy as it healed. He would ask me to scratch all around the area.

 

[luvthatdisney]

My ds has melanoma, so I guess we have experience with this type of lesion removal...

First, if you ever have another lesion removed, have a punch biopsy performed. Many derms do not like doing them, you have to be insistant especially if melanoma is suspected. The reason being, if you have a shave biopsy you could be cutting the lesion in half. With melanoma the depth of the lesion is necessary in staging.

I had some moles removed from my dd due to her brother's history of melanoma. Her derm (who is not who my ds uses), did not want to do a punch biopsy, even with the family history. I had to demand it, they finally did as I asked. The punch actually can take out the entire lesion, like taking a little hunk out. She required 1 stitch in each biopsy to close, no big deal.

As your your biopsy site, if it looks infected call the doctor. Do not wait. If you did have a bandage on it and you feel an allergic reaction to the adhesive is occuring, try some Benedryl. If you have any doubts that it is not healing correctly, you need to let the doctor know.

I hope it heals soon!

 

[Christine]

Nope. When I have my moles biopsied they just remove them competely. Is there a reason they did the shave as opposed to complete removal?

It actually was removed completely but the procedure is called a "shave" biopsy rather than an excisional biopsy (where you would have stiches. The cut the area around the mole and then shave down a little deep. What they get is the entire mole but none of the surrounding normal area like they would with an excisional biopsy. You are left with what looks a bit like an ulcer--raised reddish skin and then a hole or crater in the center.

 

[Christine]

My ds has melanoma, so I guess we have experience with this type of lesion removal...

First, if you ever have another lesion removed, have a punch biopsy performed. Many derms do not like doing them, you have to be insistant especially if melanoma is suspected. The reason being, if you have a shave biopsy you could be cutting the lesion in half. With melanoma the depth of the lesion is necessary in staging.

I had some moles removed from my dd due to her brother's history of melanoma. Her derm (who is not who my ds uses), did not want to do a punch biopsy, even with the family history. I had to demand it, they finally did as I asked. The punch actually can take out the entire lesion, like taking a little hunk out. She required 1 stitch in each biopsy to close, no big deal.

As your your biopsy site, if it looks infected call the doctor. Do not wait. If you did have a bandage on it and you feel an allergic reaction to the adhesive is occuring, try some Benedryl. If you have any doubts that it is not healing correctly, you need to let the doctor know.

I hope it heals soon!

Thanks. Melanoma was not suspected and I am one of those people who get things (I am big for seborrheic keratosis). The whole lesion was removed in this biopsy. It turned out to be a benign raised lentigo.

I did contact the doctor and it didn't meet any of the criteria for inspection (spreading redness, pain, oozing, or bleeding) so that was that.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

It actually was removed completely but the procedure is called a "shave" biopsy rather than an excisional biopsy (where you would have stiches. The cut the area around the mole and then shave down a little deep. What they get is the entire mole but none of the surrounding normal area like they would with an excisional biopsy. You are left with what looks a bit like an ulcer--raised reddish skin and then a hole or crater in the center.

Oh, then maybe I have had that. I don't know. I have 3 removed so far and not sure of the name of the procedure then.

Mine took forever to "heal".

 

[Christine]

Oh, then maybe I have had that. I don't know. I have 3 removed so far and not sure of the name of the procedure then.

Mine took forever to "heal".

Thanks. You probably did have a shave biopsy if you didn't have a stitch. Unless a mole goes very deep (and the derm can tell by looking), a shave biopsy will get it all. It should *never* be done if there is suspected melanoma as another posted stated as it can give the melanoma in than area a poor prognosis.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

I have had many removed this way. They normally don't give me any problems, but I had one that did. It took forever to heal, and it itched like crazy. It took over a year to stop itching. I had 3 dont at that time, and only the one was a problem. The derm was not worried about it. I thought it was really strange that it was only that one, but I guess it was okay.

 

[Christine]

I have had many removed this way. They normally don't give me any problems, but I had one that did. It took forever to heal, and it itched like crazy. It took over a year to stop itching. I had 3 dont at that time, and only the one was a problem. The derm was not worried about it. I thought it was really strange that it was only that one, but I guess it was okay.

I'm wondering if it is just due to location. I guess my upper arm gets a lot of use plus the skin is very fleshy/more fatty there. I expect I will have a reddened scar for awhile but I really just wish I could get to the point where I didn't need a bandage on it.

 

[Lisa Lamb]

I'm wondering if it is just due to location. I guess my upper arm gets a lot of use plus the skin is very fleshy/more fatty there. I expect I will have a reddened scar for awhile but I really just wish I could get to the point where I didn't need a bandage on it.

Hi Christine, I know this an old post but am hoping you can help. I had 2 shave biopsies on my face 3 weeks ago. They took till a couple of days to close up. I went back to the derm twice crying my eyes out bc they have looked so horrible. He insists it just takes time to heal. Meanwhile he's the one that said I will be fine in 10 days. This has been a total nightmare. They are insanely red. Each morning I run to the mirror hoping the red lessens a tiny bit, but it hasn't. I'm getting terrified I'm going to be stuck with these 2 extremely red spots on my face. Did your shave biopsy ever get lighter? If so, how long did it take?

 

[ez]

I had one done two weeks ago and have had the same problem, has taken a long time to heal and still very red, its on my boob, it does seem to be gradually lightening. Mine was atypcial so it was a good call and frankly I'm very relieved they got it all and don't have to take any more and were able to get by with just the shave. My mom has had two melanomas and I am covered with moles, and now I'm 3 for 3 for the atypical (there is a name for it just cant remember) I had one on my neck last year and it never really did the red thing. I guess it depends on where it is on your body.

 

[Christine]

Hi Christine, I know this an old post but am hoping you can help. I had 2 shave biopsies on my face 3 weeks ago. They took till a couple of days to close up. I went back to the derm twice crying my eyes out bc they have looked so horrible. He insists it just takes time to heal. Meanwhile he's the one that said I will be fine in 10 days. This has been a total nightmare. They are insanely red. Each morning I run to the mirror hoping the red lessens a tiny bit, but it hasn't. I'm getting terrified I'm going to be stuck with these 2 extremely red spots on my face. Did your shave biopsy ever get lighter? If so, how long did it take?

Yes, it finally got better. I think it was at least 3 weeks before I even noticed some mild improvement. Had a small scar (only noticeable to me for over a year). It's been many years now and you can't even tell. I take a LONG time to heal from any of the skin biopsies I have. Think weeks and weeks and weeks.

 

[Sadie22]

I had to take antibiotics when one became infected. It took longer than three weeks to heal.

 

[StarGirl11]

Hi Christine, I know this an old post but am hoping you can help. I had 2 shave biopsies on my face 3 weeks ago. They took till a couple of days to close up. I went back to the derm twice crying my eyes out bc they have looked so horrible. He insists it just takes time to heal. Meanwhile he's the one that said I will be fine in 10 days. This has been a total nightmare. They are insanely red. Each morning I run to the mirror hoping the red lessens a tiny bit, but it hasn't. I'm getting terrified I'm going to be stuck with these 2 extremely red spots on my face. Did your shave biopsy ever get lighter? If so, how long did it take?

One thing I've learned over years and years of shave biopsies. Is that YMMV with sites and scars. Some are going to lighten and heal quicker then others. Not sure if it deals with how the skin is in certain places or what. But I know I have a couple of biopsy site scars that are darker then other spots.