Is It Dandruff or Dry Scalp? 

When your scalp is itchy, does that imply you might have dandruff or dry scalp?

The 2 situations share some signs, however they’re not the identical.

Understanding which one you might have will help you higher deal with the issue.

How Do I Know If I Have Dandruff or Dry Scalp?

Granted, these two situations share comparable signs. Your scalp could really feel tight, dry, and itchy. You might also discover flakes in your shoulders or hair brush.

Each situations also can trigger basic scalp irritation and should result in scratching that may, in flip, trigger redness and even small sores.

However apart from that, dandruff and dry scalp are fairly totally different. In case you attempt to deal with a dry scalp with a dandruff answer, you might make the issue worse.

Dandruff or Dry Scalp: What Is Dandruff?

Like the remainder of your pores and skin, the pores and skin in your scalp goes by a renewal course of wherein youthful cells rise to the floor to switch older, lifeless pores and skin cells. These lifeless pores and skin cells slough off throughout common cleaning and brushing.

You probably have dandruff—medically termed seborrheic dermatitis—this strategy of shedding lifeless pores and skin cells hastens. Researchers aren’t positive what triggers this however know it may be attributable to:

• Sensitivity to sure hair care merchandise
• Extra manufacturing of oil on the scalp
• Fungal infections of the scalp

The fungus Malassezia globosa is a significant offender in inflicting dandruff. It’s naturally discovered on everybody’s scalp, however in these with dandruff, there’s typically an excessive amount of of it. An oily scalp can set off extreme progress of Malassezia globosa, which in flip, could cause lifeless pores and skin cells to shed sooner than regular, leading to dandruff.

Dandruff or Dry Scalp: What Is Dry Scalp?

A dry scalp is much like dry pores and skin anyplace else in your physique: it doesn’t retain sufficient moisture. Identical to dry pores and skin in your arm or leg could cause itching, flaking, and irritation, so can also dry pores and skin in your scalp.

Dry scalp could also be triggered by a number of components, together with:

• Extreme hair washing
• Utilizing harsh hair-care merchandise that strip pure oils from the scalp
• Allergic response to a product like hair dye
• Underlying pores and skin situations like psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, or sunburn
• Hormonal modifications or situations
• Sure drugs

Those that have dry scalps may have a tight-feeling scalp, and can also endure from boring and frizzy hair.

Dandruff or Dry Scalp: Signs of Every

Each dandruff and dry scalp could cause comparable signs like the next:

• Irritation
• Itching
• Flaking
• Scalp redness
• Sores (on account of itching)

However then some signs are totally different between the 2.

Dandruff or Dry Scalp: Can I Have Each?

It’s potential to have each dandruff and a dry scalp. In case your dandruff is attributable to an overproduction of fungus, you might also endure from a dry scalp for the reason that fungus feeds on the oil of the scalp, drying it out.

Dandruff or Dry Scalp: The way to Deal with It

Therapy for these two situations could be comparable in some methods and totally different in others.

Suggestions for Treating Dandruff

• Strive over-the-counter dandruff shampoos and coverings. Select these which might be pH balanced and assist hydrate the hair and scalp whereas working to restrict the overproduction of oil. Some therapy shampoos can over-dry the scalp, so attempt to keep away from these.
• Take into account shampooing extra typically. You wish to do away with the surplus oil on the scalp, so washing extra continuously could assist. However don’t wash greater than as soon as each day.
• Keep away from hair-care merchandise with heavy oils. These can feed the fungus and trigger much more extreme progress.
• Use a scalp therapy earlier than you shampoo. These will help raise dandruff and management any potential micro organism overgrowth. Some scalp masks are efficient this manner. They will break down flakes and assist management dandruff.
• Eat a nutritious diet. Some meals could make dandruff worse, notably these with added sugars and unhealthy fat, and processed meals.

Suggestions for Treating Dry Scalp

• Use moisturizing, nourishing shampoos and conditioners. Search for these with calming substances like lavender, chamomile, and peppermint to assuage irritation. Select mild, non-irritating shampoos with milder sulfate-free cleansers that gained’t strip the scalp of its pure oils. It could additionally assist to shampoo rather less typically.
• Restore moisture to the scalp. You need to use a pure oil like jojoba to assist struggle dryness and calm any irritation. Merely apply to the scalp, unfold all through, cowl hair, and let sit for 10-Half-hour. We advocate utilizing our Calming Moisture as an in a single day masks. Merely rub it into the scalp, placed on a hairnet, and go to mattress. Rinse within the morning and also you’ll discover a softer, extra comfy scalp (and softer hair, too!).
• Mist throughout the day. In case you’re battling a burning sensation in your scalp, we advocate our soothing Rescue + Aid Spray. Apply it on to the affected space and gently rub it in. Use as wanted to tame irritation, cut back redness, and instantly alleviate any feeling of itching.
• Drink extra water. Your pores and skin attracts moisture from inside your physique in addition to exterior, so when you’ve got a dry scalp, it’s vital to ensure you’re ingesting sufficient water all through the day.
• Use a humidifier in your house. Notably in the event you stay in a dry local weather, a humidifier in your bed room will assist your pores and skin (together with your scalp) to retain extra moisture in a single day.

Have you ever discovered useful remedies for dandruff and dry scalp?