What is the difference between dandruff and nits

Dandruff, also called seborrheic dermatitis, is a self-contained scalp condition that causes flaky skin or scales on your scalp. Read on to learn the differences between lice and dandruff. Knowing the differences can help you treat your scalp condition properly. Head lice and dandruff can cause noticeable symptoms in some people, but not in others.

Itching is the most common symptom associated with both conditions. Lice feed on human blood and stay close to the scalp.

Dandruff can itch if your scalp is very dry. Lice are parasitic insects that crawl and spread to others through close contact. Lice can crawl onto:.

Dandruff is a noncontagious, noninflammatory skin condition. Excessively dry or oily skin, common skin yeast, and certain genetic factors are commonly associated with dandruff. Dandruff typically affects adolescents and young adults, but older adults and small children can also experience a flaky scalp. Cradle cap , a type of dandruff, is common in newborns and babies.

Is it dandruff or psoriasis? Check all members of your household if someone has lice, especially if you share the same bed. Lice transfers easily from person to person. Treatment for head lice can come in the form of medicated shampoos. Shampoos containing permethrin and pyrethrin kill lice and nits and are recommended for adults and children over 2 years of age.

You may have to wash your hair with the medicated shampoo again after 7 to 10 days to ensure that all the lice are dead. Find over-the-counter lice shampoo here. It is often advised to continue treatment until all the lice and nits are gone. Depending on your medication, a follow-up treatment is recommended about 7 to 9 days after the first treatment or if you see crawling lice.

Nonmedical remedies can be used in addition to medicated shampoos to help prevent head lice from spreading. A lice infestation requires a little more work around the house to make sure that all of the tiny insects and their eggs are destroyed. So if the first treatment does not work, a person may want to see a doctor for an alternative prescription remedy. Lice remedies are available at pharmacies and online. Head lice cannot live for long without a host.

Washing items that make it easy for lice to hop back onto a person can reduce the spread of these bugs. Dandruff often responds well to OTC anti-dandruff shampoos. People can purchase these shampoos in drugstores or online.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommend shampooing with an anti-dandruff shampoo twice a week unless a person is African-American. African-Americans tend to have drier hair and scalps, so they may be better off shampooing with anti-dandruff shampoo only once per week.

People with light-colored hair should avoid shampoos with coal tar since this can change hair color. Some people find that their dandruff does not get better with an anti-dandruff shampoo. If symptoms do not improve, the flakes may be due to a yeast infection on the scalp, an autoimmune condition, eczema , or a severe case of dandruff. A dermatologist can help someone identify the underlying cause, as well as any triggers. Some people may need prescription anti-dandruff shampoos.

Dandruff is common and difficult to prevent. Regularly washing the hair reduces dandruff in some people, but lack of hygiene does not cause dandruff. People with dandruff can try to identify triggers, such as cold or dry air.

People with particularly dry scalps sometimes get relief from sleeping with a humidifier. To prevent lice, avoid close contact with people at high risk of lice, especially very young children. Avoid sharing combs, brushes, pillows, and other items where lice may hide. Neither having lice or dandruff is dangerous. Constant scratching can injure the scalp, however, and may lead to a scalp infection. Lice eggs are clearly attached to one side of the hair shaft.

DEC plugs and hair casts surround the hair shaft. Comparing the symptoms of lice and dandruff can be useful in case you ever suspect that you have lice. Dandruff Symptoms Most with dandruff only experience flaking and itching from the scalp. Symptoms of dandruff may include:. Lice Symptoms Head lice is most common amongst children and those who work with children.

Symptoms of lice may include:. Treatment for head lice is recommended for persons diagnosed with an active infestation. All household members and other close contacts should be checked; those persons with evidence of an active infestation should be treated.

Source: CDC. To a novice eye, one can easily confuse lice nits eggs with dandruff, sebum secretions and hair casts. A good way to differentiate between an nit and normal hair findings is to see whether the particle glides or moves around easily. If the answer is yes, it is certainly not lice related.

Over-the-counter OTC lice remedies no longer work well, because lice are resistant to these medicines. Hiring a professional lice service is not as expensive as one would think considering all. Dandruff on the other hand often responds well to OTC anti-dandruff shampoos. People can purchase these shampoos in drugstores or online.