How you prepare

Before the skin biopsy, tell your doctor if you:

• Are allergic to local anesthetics, topic antibiotics or antiseptics
• Have had reactions to tape
• Have been diagnosed with a bleeding disorder
• Have experienced excessive bleeding after other medical procedures
• Are taking blood-thinning medications, such as aspirin, aspiring-containing medications, warfarin (Jantoven) or heparin
• Are taking supplements or homeopathic medications — at times these can cause bleeding when taken with other medications
• Have a history of skin infections, such as impetigo