Dandruff or dry scalp? How to tell the difference and what to do

🌪 White flakes in your hair, itchiness, irritation - sound familiar?
Many people immediately think of dandruff, but the cause may be normal dry skin. The two conditions are often confused, although the treatment approach is quite different.

So how do you figure out exactly what you have? Let's deal without myths and advertising gimmicks!

🔍 What is the difference between dandruff and dry scalp?

1️⃣ Dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis)

🔬 What it is: Fungus Malassezia (everyone has it) begins to actively multiply, causing inflammation and accelerated exfoliation of cells.

📌 Characteristics:

• Large, greasy flakes (often yellowish).
• Itching, which is aggravated by sweating.
• Red spots on the scalp.
• May affect eyebrows, ears, nasolabial folds.

🖼 What it looks like:

2️⃣ Dry scalp

🔬 What it is: Lack of moisture, disruption of the lipid barrier due to aggressive grooming, cold, hard water.

📌 Characteristics:

• Small, dry "dust-like" scales.
• A feeling of tightness after washing.
• Itching, but no redness.
• It is often combined with dry skin on the body.

🧪 Test: Dandruff or dryness?

Try it run a simple experiment:

1. Apply a light oil (coconut oil, almond oil) to your scalp.

• If the itching and flaking have decreased. → most likely dryness.
• If it's gotten worse (scales stuck together, itching intensified) → probably dandruff.

💊 How to treat dandruff?

1. drugstore shampoos

Look for it in the lineup:

• Ketoconazole (2%) - kills fungus (Nizoral, Sebozol).
• Selenium sulfide - slows cell renewal (Sulsena).
• Zinc pyrithione - relieves inflammation (Head & Shoulders).

⚠ Important: Use 2-3 times a week for the first 2 months, then for prevention.

🖼 Illustration:

2. Home methods

• Tea tree oil (3-5 drops in shampoo) is a natural antiseptic.
• Apple cider vinegar (dilute 1:3 with water, rinse skin) - restores pH.

🖼 Illustration:

🌿 How to moisturize a dry scalp?

1. Mild shampoos

• Sulfate-free (Avene, La Roche-Posay.).
• With urea or hyaluronic acid (Eucerin).

2. Moisturizing masks

• With aloe vera or panthenol. (Pantene Pro-V Repair).
• Warm oil (olive oil, argan oil) 30 min before washing.

❌ What NOT to do?

• Brush your skin with your fingernails → traumatizes, increases flaking.
• Washing your hair with boiling water → washes away the protective barrier.
• Use alcohol-containing lotions → drying it out even more.

💡 When to go to the doctor?

If after 1-2 months of treatment there is no improvement, or there is:

• Wet crusts,
• Pustules,
• Hair loss - need a dermatologist/trichologist.

🖼 Illustration:

🌺 Bottom line: a quick cheat sheet

🖼 Illustration:

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🔹 Any questions? Write in the comments - we'll deal with your case! 💬