The present disclosure provides methods for treating, reducing the severity, or inhibiting the growth of cancer (e.g., skin cancer). The methods of the present disclosure comprise administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a programmed death 1 (PD-1) antagonist (e.g., an anti-PD-1 antibody). In certain embodiments, the skin cancer is cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma or basal cell carcinoma.