What are the Differences Between Dandruff and a Dry Scalp?

No one is a fan of white/off-white/yellowish flakes on their scalps. It is especially annoying when they fall all over your shoulders and that too when you are wearing dark clothes. It is then you are left to wonder whether you’re having a really dry scalp or a severe case of dandruff. Let’s explore the basic differences between the two:

What is Dandruff?

Dandruff is caused by a yeast (Malassezia) growth on the scalp and sometimes, also on the other parts of the body such as the eyebrows, behind the ears, noses and chest. The mild cases of dandruff will include flaky or scaly patches of dead skin and some underlying redness as well. The dandruff flakes can also be oily and bigger in size. Excess of dandruff can also cause you to breakout in your scalp, forehead and maybe on the other parts such as the neck and the back.

What is Dry Scalp?

A dry scalp is basically a sign of dry skin, leading to scaling. It can also be accompanied by itching. The condition may worsen with your age and is often rooted in the genes. Sometimes, it is also possible to have dry scalp as a result of other diseases such as eczema. Usually, it is due to lack of oil and moisture on the scalp and can be restored if you maintain that balance using various products and proper care. This takes us to the next point.

How to Prevent Dry Skin and Dandruff?

While dry skin can be treated with topical moisturizers, creams and similar products, dandruff in its severe form needs specialized treatments. Although there are anti-dandruff shampoos and other products, they may not be as useful as say, dandruff treatment in Qatar.

Both the conditions have nothing to do with personal hygiene but cleaning the scalp is a must and therefore, you should always have a gentle skin care routine in place where you can shower with lukewarm water and apply a moisturizer that suits you the best to lock in the water content. The same holds true for the shampoo and conditioner you choose. If you have a dry scalp, select a product with intense moisturizing property.

For dandruff, you should ideally use products that are recommended by the skin care specialist instead of anti-dandruff shampoos that may only irritate the scalp further and have temporary effects.

To Conclude

Both dandruff and dry scalp are irritating problems and can ruin you confidence. Don’t let this happen to you and opt for the best treatment near you to address them. Learn more about dandruff, skin care and hair care by keeping a tab on this space. We’ll be back with more such write-ups.