What is skin cytology?
Skin cytology is a basic dermatological procedure. It can be performed in several ways. One technique is to rub a glass slide on a lesion to obtain cells and potential micro-organisms (bacteria and yeast) that may be contributing to the skin condition. Another way is to repeatedly press clear acetate tape on a lesion which is then fixed onto a slide. Lastly, a cotton swab or blade may be used to smear skin contents on a slide. Regardless of the technique, each slide is stained and examined under a microscope.
