Every day that you go on about your daily routine, one thing that always stays with you is your hair. Whether you are working late at the office or burning calories at the gym, your hair changes and stays with you. Your beautiful tresses would go unnoticed when people would see those tiny white flakes dusting your shoulders! These tiny flakes can be caused by dandruff or dry scalp.
Struggling with dandruff or dry scalp can get really frustrating, especially those embarrassing flakes. While having dandruff or dry scalp can give you an irritated scalp and cause flakes, they are both different from each other. Let’s find out how the real difference between the two!
Dandruff vs Dry Scalp
- Cause: Dandruff stems from Malassezia yeast overgrowth, irritating the scalp and speeding up skin cell shedding. Dry scalp results from a lack of moisture, similar to dry skin elsewhere on the body.
- Appearance of Flakes: Dandruff flakes are larger, oily/waxy, potentially yellowish, and tend to clump. Dry scalp flakes are smaller, dry, white, and shed easily like fine powder.
- Scalp Condition: Dandruff often occurs on an oily scalp despite flakes, as Malassezia thrives in oil. Dry scalp feels tight, itchy, and lacks moisture, potentially appearing dull or rough.
- Associated Symptoms: Both itch, but dandruff often brings more persistent, intense itching, and scalp redness/inflammation. Dry scalp mainly causes tightness and general irritation from dehydration.
- Treatment Approach: Dandruff needs medicated shampoos (ketoconazole, salicylic acid) to control yeast and cell turnover. Dry scalp needs gentle, moisturising products and scalp treatments for hydration.
Check these symptoms to identify the real cause behind those pesky flakes. Start following the correct treatment plan to eradicate those flakes. Get ready to welcome back a healthy, clean scalp!
