[Skin sampling for the general practitioner]

Skin samplings are easily performed in general practice. They include skin biopsies, nail clippings, skin scrappings, hair pluckings as well as trichograms. The different types of skin biopsies are curetage, shaving, punch and elliptic biopsies. They are most commonly used for the diagnosis of inflammatory skin conditions and cutaneous tumors. The biopsies are performed under local anesthesia and each has specific indications. Their complications are minimal. In order to obtain as much information as possible the lesion to be biopsied should be judiciously selected, harvested without being harmed and sent to a skin-oriented pathologist. Nail clippings, skin scrapings and hair plucking allow diagnosis of superficial skin mycosis (tinea, pityriasis versicolor) and are mandatory before prescribing systemic treatment. Scrapping of an itch mite burrow may sometimes reveal the sarcopte. Trichogram may be useful in the work up of a hair loss.