More Aussies getting sunburnt on weekends

More Australian adults are getting sunburnt on summer weekends than they were four years ago, putting them at risk of skin cancer.

A Cancer Council survey of 5,300 Australians shows the downward trend in adult sunburn over the last decade has hit a hurdle.

It found 15 per cent of adults reported getting burnt on the weekend, compared to 13 per cent four years ago.

The data shows that on a summer weekend roughly 2.4 million Australians are getting sunburnt.

And men are more likely than women to take in too much sun, with 18 per cent getting burnt, compared to 12 per cent of women.

Cancer Council's Vanessa Rock says while the number of Australians who are getting burnt is still significantly lower than 10 years ago, the recent increase is cause for concern.

"Sunburn is no longer front of mind," she says.

Ms Rock wants the federal government to reinvest in a national mass market skin cancer prevention campaign to ensure adults remain vigilant about skin cancer.

"When we see that strong mass media, particularly around prevention, we see better sun protection behaviour."

Ms Rock said men in particular need to take more care.

"We know that women take care of their skin better, and notice any differences or changes on their skin, and they're more likely to be worried about ageing than men so they're more likely to use sunscreen."

WHAT ARE YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING SKIN CANCER?

* Two in three Australians are diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70

* Around 2,000 people die of skin cancer each year

* It's estimated that 12,650 Australians were diagnosed with melanoma in 2014

* In Australia in 2011, there were 1544 deaths due to melanoma