Radiation therapy for nonmelanoma skin cancer may be recommended for people who may not be able to have surgery because of the location of the skin cancer. Radiation therapy may also be a treatment choice if age or other health conditions make surgery too risky. Radiation therapy is most often used for older adults. It may lead to other skin cancers in younger people as they age.

Topical photodynamic therapy (PDT), a process of applying medications and special lighting to affected skin areas, is currently under study as a treatment for nonmelanoma skin cancer. Researchers believe PDT may be effective in treating superficial basal cell carcinoma and early squamous cell carcinoma.¹¹