I had a biopsy of the skin on my chest. There is redness around where the skin was taken out. What should I do?

I was told to use soap an water for cleansing and apply petroleum jelly. It's been 9 days and there is redness around where the skin was taken out. Also that part is still yellowish in color. I believe it is infected and can't see the doctor until Monday. What should I do? This was done at the dermatologist. Should I see a wound care specialist?

Answers from doctors (1)


Vascular Institute of Chattanooga

Published on Aug 08, 2019

The signs of infection from a wound are usually fever, chills, feeling ill, foul-looking/smelling drainage coming from the wound, increasing pain, and/or spreading redness away from the wound. When there is a cut on your skin (like a biopsy), your body goes through a natural process of healing. One of those processes is “inflammation,” and it occurs when your body sends cells to the area to heal the cut.

Symptoms of this stage of healing are redness and swelling. If you are concerned about infection, then I recommend you go to a walk-in clinic of some sort. You could also call the answering service for the dermatologist's office for guidance. But just from hearing your symptoms, it doesn’t sound like it is infected.

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Answered by Vascular Institute of Chattanooga

The signs of infection from a wound are usually fever, chills, feeling ill, foul-looking/smelling drainage coming from the wound, increasing pain, and/or spreading redness away from the wound. When there is a cut on your skin (like a biopsy), your body goes through a natural process of healing. One of those processes is “inflammation,” and it occurs when your body sends cells to the area to heal the cut.

Symptoms of this stage of healing are redness and swelling. If you are concerned about infection, then I recommend you go to a walk-in clinic of some sort. You could also call the answering service for the dermatologist's office for guidance. But just from hearing your symptoms, it doesn’t sound like it is infected.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


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