It's all fun and games till someone develops an unsightly, uncomfortable rash.

When families head out for camping this long weekend they should be keeping an eye out for poisonous plants such as poison ivy and stinging nettle.

Found across Canada, both can cause painful skin irritations with poison ivy being much more severe,  causing a camping trip to be not all fun in the sun explains Jamie Fox, A Rocha's Director at the Pembina Valley Interpretive Centre.

"It turns into a rash that kind of is a bubbly, boily rash on most people. If it's really mild it will just be kind of reddened skin, usually you get these kind of bubbles on your skin that fill up with puss."

The reaction comes from a substance in the sap called urushiol. Due to it's oily composition it's much easier to spread over the skin unlike stinging nettle which is cause by needles on the leaves.

Reactions to stinging nettle can last a couple days where as poison ivy can last up to a week or more. Fox says if skin contact is made with these plants especially poison ivy to wash the area immediately.

"Washing is what you want to do right away once you get in contact with it, so the oils don't have as much of an effect and so you don't spread it."

Treatment is focused on itch relief. People often use calamine lotion, topical steroids for severe cases or many other home-made remedies that people have found are useful.

If a rash is extremely severe or lasts for an extended period of time consult a doctor.

Fox says the best treatment is not being exposed in the first place but to be vigilant and notice the plants.

Stinging Nettle causes skin irritations through tiny needles which pierce the skin.

Poison ivy has many varieties but in Manitoba it can typically be identified by it's three leaves with round "teeth" around the edges. The leaves range in size with some being able to grow as large as a hand connected to a woody stem.

Stinging nettle is typically a knee high stem-like plant with spiky leaves with almost a fuzzy texture, often times the plant can be seen with seed bunches under its leaves.

Interestingly for those who enjoy eating wild plants, stinging nettle is nutritious with high iron and can be edible once the leaves have been boiled or steamed.

Camping is an enjoyable experience and simply being aware of what is around can help one avoid a rash of unpleasant events.