NEW health campaign will warn West Australians of the hidden skin cancer risk on cooler summer days.

I thought I would share this as my Dad has never been a sun baker, but has malignant melanoma. 

The Cancer Council is launching the multi-media campaign, which will include TV and print advertisements, today to teach people how to use their local UV Index rating to protect themselves from cancer.

Education and research director Terry Slevin said many people were unwittingly putting themselves at risk because of the mistaken belief that UV radiation was dangerous only on really hot days.

"There is a sense of complacency, especially on cooler days," Mr Slevin said. "Temperature isn't the best guide (to how dangerous the sun is).

"In the past week there have been days when it's been only 25C because a breeze is blowing and a lot of people have been caught out and got sunburnt.

"The best way to protect yourself is the UV Index. If it's above three, then it's time to cover up."

Silver Sands mother-of-four Kristy Clarke, who lost her husband Steve to skin cancer six weeks ago, urged people to protect themselves from the sun and have their skin checked regularly.

"My message is to get your skin checked every few months," Mrs Clarke said.

"Just because you had your skin checked two years ago, it doesn't mean everything's OK.

"Steve had his mole checked and they told him he was OK, but then he went to a dermatologist and they had to cut it out, but it had spread.

"The melanoma spread to his stomach and so he had to have his whole stomach removed, but then it spread to his brain.

"He had the brain tumour removed this year but then it grew back and he had to have it removed again."

Mr Clarke was then treated with a new cancer drug, but his condition deteriorated and he died on October 18.

Now Mrs Clarke and her four sons are determined to spare another family such a tragic loss through raising awareness of the importance of sun protection and regular skin checks.

Mr Slevin said he hoped the new campaign, also funded by the Health Department and Healthway, would help West Australians protect themselves and educate others on how to interpret the UV Index.

"We know that while most people have heard of the UV Index, our research tells us few understand how to use it or what it means," Mr Slevin said.

"We hope that people will see the campaign and then, through talking to their mates and families, there will be a more sophisticated understanding in the community about how to protect against sun damage."

WA has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world, with more than 76,000 people diagnosed with skin cancer each year.

In summer, the UV Index in Perth can be as high as 13 (extreme) or more.

Northern parts of WA experience a high UV Index all year