Diagnosis of Skin Disorders

Sometimes a biopsy, in which a small piece of skin is removed for examination under a microscope, must be done. For this simple procedure, the doctor generally numbs a small area of skin with a local anesthetic and, using a small knife (scalpel), scissors, razor blade (called a shave biopsy), or round cutter (called a punch biopsy), removes a piece of skin. The size of the piece is determined by the type of abnormal growth that is suspected, its location, and the type of tests to be done. Sometimes the doctor can both diagnose and treat a small tumor by removing the entire tumor along with a small border of normal skin around it. The tumor is sent to a laboratory for examination under a microscope.

If a fungal infection or scabies Scabies Infestation Scabies is a parasitic skin infestation caused by mites. Scabies usually spreads from person to person through physical contact. People with scabies have severe itching, even though there are... read more is suspected, a doctor may do a skin scraping. During this test, the doctor scrapes off some material from the skin, such as scale Types of Skin Marks and Growths , and examines it under a microscope. Sometimes special chemicals or stains are applied to the material.

If an infection is suspected, a sample of material (such as a skin scraping) can be sent to a laboratory, where the sample is placed in a culture medium (a substance that allows microorganisms to grow). If the sample contains bacteria, fungi, or viruses, they will often grow in the culture and can then be identified.

A Wood light examination is used when certain skin infections are suspected. The skin is illuminated with an ultraviolet light (also known as a black light) in a dark room. The ultraviolet light makes some fungi or bacteria glow brightly. The light also accentuates the skin's pigment (melanin), making pigmentation abnormalities, such as vitiligo Vitiligo Vitiligo is a loss of melanocytes that causes patches of skin to turn white. Patches of whitened skin are present on various parts of the body. Doctors usually base the diagnosis on the appearance... read more , more visible.

A Tzanck test is done to help a doctor diagnose certain diseases caused by viruses, such as herpes simplex Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Infections Herpes simplex virus infection causes recurring episodes of small, painful, fluid-filled blisters on the skin, mouth, lips (cold sores), eyes, or genitals. This very contagious viral infection... read more and herpes zoster Shingles Shingles is a painful skin rash caused by a viral infection that results from reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox. What causes the virus to reactive... read more . When these diseases are active, they produce small blisters. During a Tzanck test, a doctor removes the top of a blister with a sharp blade and then scrapes the blister with a scalpel to obtain fluid. The specimen is examined with a microscope after special stains are applied.

Diascopy is done so that a doctor can observe color changes that occur when pressure is applied to the skin. During this test, a doctor presses a microscope slide against a lesion to see whether it blanches (whitens) or otherwise changes color. Certain kinds of lesions whiten, whereas others do not. Some skin lesions (such as those caused by sarcoidosis Sarcoidosis Sarcoidosis is a disease in which abnormal collections of inflammatory cells (granulomas) form in many organs of the body. Sarcoidosis usually develops in people aged 20 to 40 years, most often... read more ) turn a yellowish brown color when this test is done.

Skin tests, including a "use" test, a patch test, a prick (puncture) test, and an intradermal test, may be done if a doctor suspects an allergic reaction is the cause of a rash.

The use test, in which a suspected substance is applied far from the original area where the rash occurred (usually on the forearm), is useful when perfumes, shampoos, or other substances found in the home may be the cause.

In the patch test, many small samples of common and suspected reaction-causing substances, known as allergens, are applied to the skin (typically on the upper back) under adhesive tape and left on. The skin under the patches is evaluated 48 hours later after the patches are removed and then again at 96 hours. It often takes the skin several days to produce a visible reaction. If a substance produces a characteristic red, usually itchy rash, the person is probably allergic to it. Sometimes the substances produce an irritation that is not a true allergic reaction.

In the prick test, a drop of an extract of the suspected substance is placed on the skin. Then, the drop is pricked or punctured with a needle to introduce a very tiny amount of the substance into the skin. The skin is then observed for redness, hives, or both, which usually occur within 30 minutes. (See also Skin testing Skin testing Allergic reactions (hypersensitivity reactions) are inappropriate responses of the immune system to a normally harmless substance. Usually, allergies cause sneezing, watery and itchy eyes, a... read more .)

In the intradermal test, tiny amounts of a substance are injected under the skin. The area is then watched for redness and swelling, which indicate an allergic reaction. (See also Skin testing Skin testing Allergic reactions (hypersensitivity reactions) are inappropriate responses of the immune system to a normally harmless substance. Usually, allergies cause sneezing, watery and itchy eyes, a... read more .)

Although rare, prick and intradermal tests can cause a severe allergic reaction, known as anaphylaxis Anaphylactic Reactions Anaphylactic reactions are sudden, widespread, potentially severe and life-threatening allergic reactions. Anaphylactic reactions often begin with a feeling of uneasiness, followed by tingling... read more , which can be life threatening. Therefore, these types of tests should be done only by a trained health care practitioner.