Dry scalp vs dandruff: difference between dandruff and dry scalp
- In this article:
- Go to sectionThe signs of a dry scalp
- Go to sectionYour skin keeps moisture locked in, but it becomes “leaky” when damaged
- Go to sectionDandruff chips away at your moisture defenses
- Go to sectionDry scalp is commonly caused by dandruff
- Go to sectionHow to treat dry scalp caused by dandruff
- Go to sectionThere’s no need for lotions and moisturizers
- Go to sectionMoisturize your scalp and tackle the root cause
- Go to sectionStill got dry scalp?
Dry scalp and dandruff have similar symptoms. Here are a few tips on how to tell one from the other.
Discover one of the best shampoos for dry scalp
The signs of a dry scalp
Whatever is causing dryness, the symptoms are almost always the same. These include:
a tight feeling on the scalp
itching
flakes
redness
Some people experience all these symptoms, while others will see just one or two of them.
Your skin keeps moisture locked in, but it becomes “leaky” when damaged
The skin on your scalp is actually an intricately arranged network of cells, packed like a brick wall. It’s your natural moisture defence and it keeps water locked in and the skin looking healthy. As soon as that arrangement is disrupted, the brick-like structure starts to break down. The barrier becomes “leaky,” allowing essential moisture to escape and causing the dry, tight feeling you’ll recognize if you suffer from dandruff.
Dandruff chips away at your moisture defenses
While flakes get a lot of attention when it comes to dandruff, what you often can’t see is the damage happening on the surface of the scalp.
When you have dandruff, your skin cells replicate faster than usual, disrupting the protective cell walls. To make matters worse, satisfying the itch that accompanies dandruff with a good scratch can further damage the barrier.
All this undermines the brick-like structure and allows essential moisture to escape, drying out the skin.
Dry scalp is commonly caused by dandruff
A dry scalp is a symptom of dandruff. Dandruff damages the skin on the surface of the scalp, causing dryness.
If the root cause behind your dry scalp is this common condition, you should seek out the right shampoo to treat it.
The right shampoo needs to:
moisturise the scalp to relieve dryness
treat the root cause– dandruff
How to treat dry scalp caused by dandruff
Our Dry Scalp Care with Almond Oil Shampoo with 3 moisturizers provides instant moisture to the hair and scalp, while protecting you from dandruff.
The formula delivers a deep hydration you can feel, starting from the first wash. It effectively relieves scalp dryness* and its symptoms, including itchiness* and redness.
Also try our Hydrating Anti Dandruff Shampoo with coconut milk. It’s specially designed for people with dry scalp and is ideal for restoring natural moisture and locking it in.
Rehydrate your scalp with our NEW Derma X Pro Collection to help prevent dryness and dandruff.
With regular use, your scalp can stay hydrated and visibly flake free.
To see if your dry scalp is caused by dandruff, we recommend using Head & Shoulders exclusively at least 3 times a week for 3weeks. Should the symptoms persist, consult your dermatologist.
There’s no need for lotions and moisturizers
When your skin is dry, you normally reach for the lotions and moisturizers to treat it.
When it comes to your scalp, that won’t work – especially if it's caused by dandruff.
First, these treatments can weigh the hair down and it can be hard to get them right where they’re needed – on the skin.
Second, they don’t treat dandruff, so the root cause of your dry scalp won’t be affected and it’s likely to come back.
The best treatment is a dandruff shampoo like our Dry Scalp Care with Almond Oil Shampoo – it contains three moisturizers to hydrate your scalp fast, while effectively tackling dandruff.
And with your dandruff under control, your body will have time to repair the damage to your skin’s natural moisture defences.
Moisturize your scalp and tackle the root cause
If your hands were dry, you’d reach for hand lotion. If the skin on your face were dry, you’d apply a moisturizer. And it’s no different for your scalp.
Choose a shampoo that provides extra moisturization like our Dry Scalp Care shampoo with almond oil.
Adding ordinary moisturizing shampoo usually isn’t enough to care for a dry scalp. Unless you tackle the root cause, your dry scalp will likely keep coming back.
That’s where an anti-dandruff shampoo comes in. Use it regularly and you’ll help keep dandruff away for a strong, healthy moisture barrier, so your body can get back the moisture that it needs.
Still got dry scalp?
If you’ve tried our dry scalp shampoo and used it exclusively for 2-3 weeks, your dryness worries should be forgotten.
But if they’re not, it could be that your dry scalp is caused by something other than dandruff.
If that’s the case, it’s best to contact your dermatologist to see if they can identify the cause and prescribe the right treatment.
* caused by dandruff
