The goal of treating non-melanoma skin cancer is to destroy or remove the cancer completely with minimal scarring of the patient’s skin. The treatment options for non-melanoma skin cancer depend on a number of factors, including the location of the lesion on the patient’s body. For most squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas, which rarely spread, a biopsy may be the only necessary treatment. However, if additional treatment is required, some common options include:

• Cryosurgery. For certain small skin cancers that are detected in their early stages, cryosurgery (freezing the affected area with liquid nitrogen) may be an appropriate treatment. After the treated area thaws, the dead skin will fall off. This treatment may also be recommended for the treatment of actinic keratoses.
  
  
• Excisional surgery. This is a common form of treatment for any type of skin cancer. During this procedure, the physician surgically removes the suspicious lesion, as well as a surrounding margin of healthy tissue. It is not uncommon for a plastic surgeon to perform excisional surgery of facial lesions.
  
  
• Mohs’ surgery. This form of treatment is often recommended for large skin cancers that are difficult to treat or recurrent skin cancers. This treatment is used for both basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. During this treatment, the lesion is removed one layer at a time and examined under a microscope. The process is repeated until only healthy tissue remains.
  
  
• Curettage and electrodesiccation. This treatment is commonly used for thin or small basal cell carcinomas. During this treatment, the majority of the lesion is removed, and any remaining layers of cancer cells are scraped away using a curet (circular blade). Afterward, an electric needle is used to destroy any remaining cancer cells.
  
  
• Laser therapy. This form of treatment aims a narrow beam of light that vaporizes growths. It is often used for skin cancer lesions that develop on the lips or the outer layer of skin. The advantages of laser therapy include minimal bleeding, swelling or scarring.
  
  
• Skin grafting and reconstructive surgery. Skin cancers that are particularly large may require a deep and/or wide excision. Afterward, there may not be enough skin left to close the wound. For these cases, skin grafts (taking skin from another area, such as the buttocks or thighs) can fill in some of the removed tissue and restore a more normal appearance to the area.

In some cases, the cancer may be in a sensitive or hard-to-reach area, such as the eyelid, tip of the nose or the ear. These locations can make surgery difficult and radiation therapy may be used for treatment. For skin cancer limited to the top of the skin, chemotherapy can be effective. This type of chemotherapy is usually applied as a cream or lotion.

Other therapeutic approaches to treatment are still under investigation. Two of the most promising treatments for skin cancer that are being studied include:

• Photodynamic therapy. Using a laser light and medications that sensitize cancer cells to light, this form of treatment helps destroy skin cancer cells. Currently, it is used for precancerous skin lesions.
  
  
• Retinoid therapy. Retinoids are substances that help regulate the work of genes as cells grow and divide. Chemically related to vitamin A, retinoids are used to treat a wide variety of conditions and diseases, including several cancers. Retinoids have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the treatment of certain cancers, particularly skin cancers. They are usually administered in a topical gel or orally, depending on the condition being treated.