Non-Surgical Skin Cancer, Keloid & Skin Treatment in Surprise, AZ

If you're facing Mohs surgery on the face, ears, or nose — or you've tried injections, cryotherapy, topicals, or excision and the problem keeps coming back — superficial radiation therapy may be the option you haven't been offered.

Superficial radiation therapy uses low-energy X-rays that deposit dose at the skin surface and only a few millimeters deep, sparing healthy tissue underneath. Treatment courses are tailored to the diagnosis. For non-melanoma skin cancers, prescribed doses are in the curative range — typically 50 to 60 Gy delivered over 15 to 30 short weekday sessions. For benign conditions like keloids, warts, and psoriasis, prescribed doses are far lower and treatment courses are correspondingly shorter, often 3 to 12 sessions. In every case, treatment is painless, requires no anesthesia, leaves no incision or stitches, and has no recovery time.

This is the only thing we do. Heelex was founded as the first U.S. clinic dedicated exclusively to superficial and low-dose radiation therapy for skin and benign conditions. Decades of published research support these uses. Most insurance is accepted, including Medicare. No physician referral is required.

Warts That Resist Standard Treatment

Plantar warts, common warts, and periungual (around-the-nail) warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Standard treatments — cryotherapy, salicylic acid, laser, surgical paring — clear the surface tissue, but if even a small reservoir of HPV-infected cells survives in the deeper skin layer, the wart returns. Many patients cycle through months or years of repeat treatments without lasting clearance.

Superficial radiation therapy targets HPV-infected cells directly. The low-energy beam reaches the depth of the wart and damages viral DNA in infected keratinocytes, while leaving healthy deeper tissue untouched. No cutting, no burning, no chemical irritation, no scar.

This approach is particularly valuable for:

• Plantar warts that have failed multiple rounds of cryotherapy
• Periungual warts where surgical or laser destruction risks the nail matrix
• Patients with diabetes or peripheral vascular disease, where foot wounds heal poorly and cryogenic injury can become a serious problem
• Older patients and anyone wanting a painless, non-destructive option

A typical wart course is 3 to 7 short sessions over consecutive weekdays. Each session takes a few minutes. Most patients feel nothing during treatment.

Localized Psoriasis That Hasn't Cleared

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin condition driven by overactive T-cells that accelerate skin-cell turnover, producing the thick, scaly, inflamed plaques patients know well. Most patients are managed effectively with topical steroids, vitamin D analogs, phototherapy, or systemic biologics. But some plaques — particularly on the scalp, hands, feet, elbows, and knees — resist every line of treatment and remain symptomatic for years.

Superficial radiation therapy is a targeted, localized option for these resistant plaques. The low-energy beam suppresses the rapidly dividing skin cells driving the plaque and reduces the local inflammatory response, without affecting the rest of the body and without the systemic side effects of biologics or long-term steroid use.

This approach is particularly useful when:

• A single plaque or small area has failed topicals, phototherapy, and systemic therapy
• Systemic biologics are contraindicated or have caused side effects
• A symptomatic plaque is in a location that interferes with function (palms, soles) or is cosmetically distressing
• The patient prefers a localized, drug-free option

A typical course is 6 to 10 short sessions over consecutive weekdays. Most patients see meaningful clearance within weeks of finishing treatment.

"I had suffered for 24 YEARS with pustular psoriasis on my foot. I tried everything and nothing worked out — only worked for a short time. After going to Heelex for treatment my foot has been clear for 2 years!!! Heelex changed my life. Thank you to Heelex and their amazing staff!"

Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer (BCC and SCC)

Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the two most common skin cancers in the U.S. When caught early, both are highly curable. The real question for many patients isn't whether to treat — it's how.

Surgery and Mohs are the standard of care, but they aren't right for every patient. Lesions on the nose, ears, eyelids, lips, and scalp often heal with visible scars or pulled features. Lower-leg lesions in older patients can become chronic non-healing wounds. Patients on blood thinners, diabetics, and those who simply don't want to be cut deserve a real alternative.

Superficial radiation therapy has been used for non-melanoma skin cancer for over 70 years, with published cure rates that rival surgical excision in appropriately selected lesions. A curative dose of low-energy X-rays is delivered directly to the lesion — no cutting, no stitches, no anesthesia, and typically excellent cosmetic outcome.

You may be a candidate if:

• You have a biopsy-proven BCC or SCC and want to avoid surgery
• Your lesion is on the face, ears, nose, eyelids, lips, or scalp
• Your lesion is on the lower leg or another area where surgical wounds heal poorly
• You're on blood thinners or are a poor surgical candidate
• A prior surgical excision didn't fully clear the lesion

A typical course is 15 to 30 short weekday sessions at 50 to 60 Gy total dose. Each visit takes a few minutes. Melanoma is not treated with this modality, and very large or aggressive-subtype tumors may be better served by surgery — we'll review your pathology and tell you honestly whether you're a candidate.

"I highly recommend Heelex for treatment of pain related to arthritis. I am a diabetic and I chose Heelex to treat a basal cell carcinoma. The treatment was painless and healed completely without any visible change in my skin. Absolutely thrilled with the result."

Keloids That Keep Coming Back

Keloids are scars that grow beyond the original wound and resist standard care. Surgical removal alone has recurrence rates above 50%. Adding superficial radiation immediately after excision drops that rate below 20% in published series — often under 10%.

You may be a candidate if:

• A keloid has returned after steroid injections or prior excision
• You're scheduled for keloid excision and want to reduce recurrence risk
• You have a history of forming keloids

Treatment is typically 3 short sessions over consecutive days, starting 24 to 48 hours after excision. Read more about our keloid treatment program →