Your skin is the largest and most visible organ in your body, working hard to protect you from your environment. Though it may not be treated with as much attention as other major organs, such as the heart and liver, the skin plays an essential role in overall health. It is important to be vigilant in caring for the skin, carefully inspecting it for signs of potential health problems. When a lesion or suspicious growth threatens the body, a skin biopsy may be necessary to diagnose the lesion either as malignant or benign. Skin biopsies are most commonly requested to evaluate skin discoloration, growths, or even simple moles that have recently changed in shape, texture, size or colour. During a biopsy, a doctor will take a small sampling of the suspicious tissues and send them to a lab for microbiological analysis. The results of a skin biopsy help doctors determine the best course of treatment for the patient if necessary.