[jane1]

Hi...can you tell me where you have a sample from?....on the rash or a normal area?....i have to see a dermy so st thomies can hopfully link the two together.......thanks jane

 

[Maia]

I've not had it done, but what I've heard/read is that often times two samples are taken. One from an affected area, and one from an unaffected area. Hopefully others will come by with personal experience for you!

 

[Clare.T]

Hello Jane

There are three possibilities: from an area of obvious change (a "lesion"); from an exposed but unaffected are such as inner forearm; from an unexposed unaffected area such as buttock: this can show confirming changes only for SLE. If there are already skin problems I don't know if they would bother taking them from elsewhere. Uusally these days they only do it when no skin problems and to confirm an unsure diagnosis, or so I have been told.

It doesn't hurt

I am so glad you are last getting full investigation and let's hope really helpful treatment

Cheers
Clare

 

[jane1]

Hi there...yes hopefully......my rash is on my face......cheeks nose and fore head....:sad:.....that should be fun them taking a sample from there?!!:lol:......god knows why im laughing!!!...i do have it else where but not so bad.............jane

 

[karen.w.]

hello jane

when I had a skin biopsy it was taken from my neck..two small pieces were taken which has left two small scars,however they are quite close together & not too noticeable......they look like a vampire bite

my rash also affects my neck so I assume that's why the biopsy was taken from there..
jane don't worry it doesnt hurt at all & they will freeze the area.

good luck & please let us know how it goes
take care...karen x

 

[Katharine]

Hi,

I only had skin taken from an unaffected area - in this case my stomach. the dermy abdsolutely wanted an area that had never been exposed to the sun.

My case may be very different from yours as I only have a malar rash which is mostly light and occcasionally very visible.

Katharine

 

[florie]

hi
I have also had a biopsy done by my doctor. She took a sample of the rash on the back of my neck. She numbed the area and took a piece of skin that was rashed, it was like a pinch and burning sensation. Results showed lupus and that's all she said. By the way i still get it and scratch like crazy. I can feel the rash and explain it as raised bumps that make a trail together. I use antibiotic cream so it won't get infected from scratching it.
good luck with your dermy appt. Hope you get some answers and relief,especially that it's on your face. Let us know how you do.
Hugs, Florie

 

[mysharonna]

Hi Jane,

I had a skin punch biopsy taken from my chest, where there were several lesions. It was quick and painless and healed quickly. I have a small scar, barely noticable. I have heard that some doctors also take a sample from healthy skin areas. In my case it was not necessary, the sample confirmed a lupus diagnosis.

Best of luck with your procedure, hope it gets you some answers!
Sharon

 

[jane1]

......many thanks too you all for your replies....they have helped very much....i will most certainly keep you informed?!!:wink2:......all the best....jane

 

[marymackay]

more skin samples

Hi Jane and All
that was an interesting thread about skin testing. I have just found it, as on that date I had flown down for the day to see a skin specialist. Unfortunately we have none here or even visiting.
In April I travelled down to a skin specialist, as for over 15 months my scalp was a mass of sores, with over 6 drs not knowing, and nothing helped. He decided not to test yet, but said I should go on Plaquenil, as in same city for my first rheumy visit he said he did not know the brain. Travelling by train/bus thousands of ks was not possible as symptoms worsened. :worried:
I am aware that I have many symptoms over years and now they perplex doctors. :sad: Also have skin cancers on nose and back of neck to be cut out very soon.
So I've read about the bands testing, and your posts just now, where you have said about various places and forms of testing. I'd tried late Nov to get an skin appt at southern hospital, but they said could be months, and next rheumy appt was delayed- now will be in March flying down again. This skin specialist last Wednesday said she could give me lots of ointments etc, but I said I'd already had those over months well over a year ago (not specialists,but GPs and one froze 3 spots thinking it was sunspots- agony, but others said no.) So she agreed and said it was best to have it tested down there at hospital.
Have others had them tested on scalp too please?
So I suppose I will have to wait for the rheumy in March at that hospital down south?
Cheers Mary:wink2:

 

[deehambley]

hi all

I have the rash on my cheeks, ears, scalp and on my forehead originally had a tiny patch..they took the biopsy from that patch on my forehead it didnt hurt at the time but did sting after but perfectly bearable like a graze really...unfortunately for me they left a little hole right betwwen my eyebrows from it but it has healed quite well now (4 years ago) and i am not complaining about the hole as the patch there never came back a fringe covers it anyway and i will always have that as i look daft without a fringe! lol I am just glad it got rid of that bit of lupus the doc was suprised but pleased for me prob as i didn't mind i had this tiny hole!!! :lol: