Why it's done

A skin biopsy is used to diagnose or help treat skin conditions and diseases, including:

• Actinic keratosis
• Bullous pemphigoid and other blistering skin disorders
• Inflammatory skin conditions
• Skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma
• Skin infection, occasionally
• Skin tags
• Suspicious moles or other growths
• Warts