A small biopsy is often needed to confirm the diagnosis prior to treatment being undertaken to determine the type of SCC and subsequent treatment method.

The condition is usually treated with simple skin surgery. This enables the pathologist to check under the microscope that the SCC has been removed completely. Further surgery or radiation therapy may be required if there was any residual tumour evident, or nerves were involved or a more aggressive pattern was seen under the microscope.

In some situations and in some locations, small SCCs can be treated by a scraping called curettage or by freezing with liquid nitrogen. In circumstances where surgery is not appropriate the SCC may be treated by radiation therapy alone.

Some superficial SCCs and sunspots can be treated with Photodynamic therapy (PTD), or topical medications. PDT uses light sensitising cream and a specific direct light to kill the cancer cells. Efudix (5-FU), Aldara (Imiquimod) and Picato (ingenol mebutate) are creams that can be applied directly to the affected area with minimal risk of scarring.

There are promising immunotherapy treatment options for treating advanced SCC being developed.

There are new preventative therapies available such as oral nicotinamide (vitamin B3) for those with an established history of NMSC, particularly SCC. A recent Australian study demonstrated a significant reduction in NMSC in those who took high dose oral nicotinamide (500mg twice a day) for a year