Dandruff Or Dry Scalp, How To Stop The Itchy Flakes!

Having dandruff or dry scalp can be such a frustrating problem. You’re scratching your scalp, flaking, and embarrassed by it. You’ve tried several different treatments but none of them seem to be working. Why is my scalp itchy and flaky?

The first step to finding the solution is determining if you have dandruff or dry scalp BEFORE you begin any treatments.

What is the difference between dandruff and dry scalp?

Dandruff and dry scalp are NOT the same condition. Both are fairly common, but it’s important to know which condition you have so that you can treat it properly.

Many people with dry scalp believe that they have dandruff, so they begin to use dandruff treatments. But in reality, that can actually make your dry scalp worse and flake more! Let’s start by learning about each condition and their symptoms to determine what treatment options will work for you.

Do I have dandruff?

Dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis) is a medical condition on the scalp where a fungus is present that causes itchiness and sensitive skin.

The skin can become red and inflamed on the affected area with possible scaly patches depending on how severe it is. The flakes that are caused by dandruff will have more of a yellowish tint and are moist flakes compared to the smaller, bright white flakes from dry scalp.

What causes dandruff?

Dandruff happens when there is too much moisture present on the scalp, not the opposite. When there is excess moisture, this is a breeding ground for fungus to grow.

Because of this, dandruff is more prevalent in the summertime or humid climates where you sweat more frequently.

Dandruff treatments will dry out the scalp to kill the fungus, so this is why you need to be sure which condition you have before you begin treatment. If you begin to treat dry scalp with dandruff treatments, it is possible to actually make it worse!

If you can feel moisture on your scalp in the areas that you feel irritation, then you likely have dandruff.

Do I have a dry scalp?

Dry scalp is simply that, when your scalp is too dry it thirsts for moisture and hydration.

The symptoms are an itchy scalp with lots of small white flakes that may fall onto your shirt. The flakes are not as soft as those of dandruff. This is not a medical condition; it is merely dry skin.

What causes dry scalp?

There can be a number of reasons why you may have a dry scalp. Medications, dehydration, hormones, or simply not using the correct products.

Dry scalp is more prevalent in the wintertime when the humidity is low and you aren’t sweating as frequently.

Remember that your scalp is skin, and it needs to be moisturized just as the rest of your skin does. Especially if you are already prone to having dry skin.

Best dandruff and dry scalp treatments

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How to treat dandruff

Because dandruff is a fungal condition, it requires a medicated treatment depending on the severity. The product will contain an anti-fungal chemical that will kill any fungus present.

If your condition isn’t very severe, then you can probably get by with an over the counter treatment. But if it is still persistent with the over the counter treatments, than you may need to get a prescription from your doctor.

Over the counter dandruff solutions

The first suggestion I have is to shampoo your hair more frequently if you are skipping a lot of days. While shampoo can dry out the hair and scalp, if you are getting dandruff then drying out your scalp is exactly what you need to do.

If that doesn’t solve your problem, try over the counter topicals that have anti-fungal compounds.

There are many shampoos on the market made to treat dandruff (Head And Shoulders, Selsun Blue), but this can be tough for women because these shampoos are not color safe.

Dandruff shampoos will drastically fade your hair color even with one wash. But fear not if you have colored hair or love your current shampoo.

There are over the counter dandruff topicals other than shampoos that can be used to reduce the symptoms of dandruff.

I have found Scalpicin to drastically reduce dandruff without fading hair color. Scalpicin is a hydrocortisone liquid that can be applied directly to your scalp and doesn’t need to be rinsed off. You can use this everyday (especially in the summertime) even after your symptoms are gone just so it doesn’t come back.

I apply Scalpicin to my scalp after every shampoo on the certain areas of my head that tend to get itchy. This also enables me to go longer between shampoos because my scalp is protected.

Prescription dandruff solutions

If the condition is severe or still persistent with over the counter treatments, then it may be time to see your dermatologist.

Yes, dermatologist, because your scalp is skin!

Your doctor can prescribe you medicated products that are much stronger than what you will get over the counter.

They’ll probably first offer you medicated shampoos, which again will fade your hair color. And you may also not like how the shampoos make your hair smell or feel.

If you have colored hair, ask them about a medicated mousse instead. Use the mousse the same way as the Scalpicin. Apply it to your scalp after the shower every time you wash your hair.

If this still is not helping, your doctor can prescribe you an oral anti-fungal medication to treat the problem from the inside out. This is generally only for very severe cases.

How to treat dry scalp

Dry scalp can be treated fairly easily from home. For most men, simply using conditioner generally solves the problem.

Try letting your conditioner sit on your scalp for a few minutes every time you wash.

It may also be beneficial to try a scalp exfoliator to remove any dead skin cells, and then follow up with a masque.

My favorite system for treating dry scalp is with Paul Mitchell Hair And Scalp Treatment and Tea Tree Shampoo And Conditioner. You can also get them together as a kit here. This product smells and feels AH-MAZING on your scalp if it’s irritated.

Another great product for dry scalp is Amika’s Pink Charcoal Cleansing Oil. It exfoliates the scalp while adding hydration. Before you shower, apply this directly to your scalp and rub in with your fingers. Let it sit for 5 minutes and shampoo it out. I couldn’t have lived without this stuff while I was on Accutane.

It is also important to make sure that when you are brushing your hair, you brush your scalp as well! This stimulates your scalp as well as removes the dead skin cells.

I recommend using a 100% boar bristle brush for this, and I go more in depth on how to brush your scalp in this post.

Conclusion

Living with dandruff or dry scalp can be extremely irritating not to mention embarrassing. But in order to properly find a solution to the problem, you first need to determine which condition you have.

Dandruff is characterized by larger and moist flakes on the scalp. The flakes may have a yellowish appearance and are accompanied by redness as well as moisture on the irritated area.

This is caused by a fungus that becomes present when there is extra moisture on the scalp. This is normally due to sweat, humidity, and not washing the hair enough.

To treat dandruff, you’ll need to use a medicated product to combat the fungus. You can first try over the counter products, but if they fail to work then a trip to the dermatologist may be in order. They can give you prescription products, and if the case is severe enough an oral anti-fungal medication.

Dry scalp is characterized by small, hard, white flakes on the scalp. While both conditions are itchy, dry scalp is present due to a lack of moisture and hydration on the scalp.

This condition is usually caused from washing the hair too frequently, not using conditioner, or using low-quality products. But since this is just dry skin, there may be a number of factors contributing to why your skin is dry such as medication or hormones.

Over the counter products and changing your routine usually solves this issue easily.

Hopefully now you’ve learned which condition you have, so that you can tackle those flakes and stop the itching!

If you have any further questions for me on this topic, be sure to leave them in the comments. And as always, Have A Good Hair Day!

Last updated 05/08/2023