Most skin cancer treatments are simple procedures that can be done in a doctor’s office or clinic.

Treatment Options

Surgical Therapies

Surgical Removal

Small growths and pre-cancerous spots may only need a biopsy to remove them completely. A few stitches may be needed to close the wound. If the tumor is larger or goes deeper into the skin, some normal tissue around it may also be removed to make sure no cancer is left behind.

Mohs Surgery

The tumor is removed in small pieces. Each piece is checked under a microscope in the operating room. The surgeon keeps removing tissue until all the cancer is gone. This limits how much healthy skin is removed. This type of surgery is used for larger cancers, cancers that could come back, or cancers in sensitive areas.

Lymph Node Surgery

Lymph nodes are small glands that are part of the immune system. In this type of surgery, lymph nodes are examined to see if cancer has spread. This surgery is done in a hospital with anesthesia.

Reconstructive Surgery and Skin Grafts

If a large tumor is removed, skin may be taken from another part of the body to cover the area (called a skin graft). Cosmetic surgery may be needed to reduce scarring.

Freezing (Cryotherapy) and Laser Surgery

Liquid nitrogen can freeze and destroy the outer layer of skin. This removes pre-cancerous spots and small surface cancers. The skin will heal but may be sensitive for a few months. Some scarring is possible. For small surface cancers, a laser can also be used to remove the growth. This usually leaves little scarring or bleeding.

Amputation

In rare cases, a melanoma may be serious enough that part or all of a finger or toe needs to be removed.

Other Therapies

Photodynamic Therapy

Special medicines that make skin cells sensitive to light are used with lasers to destroy the top layer of skin and remove skin cancers. You may need to stay out of direct sunlight for several weeks after this treatment.

Chemotherapy

Anti-cancer medicines can be applied directly to the skin as a cream or lotion. These can irritate the skin and may cause scarring. If cancer has spread to other parts of the body (such as melanoma), a chemotherapy drug taken by mouth or given through a vein may be needed every few weeks.

Immunotherapy or Biological Therapy

Some medicines help your immune system find and destroy cancer cells. These medicines may make you feel sick, like you have the flu. They may be used along with other treatments for melanoma.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation is used to destroy abnormal skin cancers when surgery is not a safe option due to the person’s health or other risk factors. Radiation may be used along with other treatments.

Monoclonal Antibody Treatment

Monoclonal antibodies are medicines that target specific molecules in the body. They can slow or stop the spread of cancer, especially melanoma. They can also boost the immune system’s response to cancer. These medicines can have serious side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider about what to expect.

Monitoring

After any treatment, your healthcare provider will schedule regular follow-up visits.Go to these appointments and share updates on how you are doing and any symptoms you notice.

Tell your healthcare team about any side effects or new symptoms from any treatment, because many of them can be managed.

Last Updated May 2026