My daughter has been scratching her head a lot lately, and I've noticed small white flakes in her hair. I'm not sure if it's just dry scalp/dandruff or if it could be nits. How can I tell the difference between the two to know what to do?
5 months ago
My daughter gets both during school season! The easiest way to tell is that dandruff flakes slide off the hair easily when you brush it, but nits (lice eggs) are glued tightly to the hair shaft and won't move unless you pull them with your nails.
6 months ago
Dandruff is usually just dry scalp skin and can be managed with a good anti-dandruff shampoo and a healthy diet. But if you have intense itching behind your ears and neck, it is probably lice or nits. Get a specific anti-lice wash from the chemist.
6 months ago
I agree with the comb test. Use a fine-toothed lice comb; if nothing gets stuck but white flakes fall on your shoulders, it's just dandruff.
6 months ago
For mild dandruff, applying warm coconut oil with a few drops of lemon works very well. But if you find tiny, oval-shaped white eggs stuck to the hair close to the scalp, those are nits. If the scalp gets infected or very red from scratching, please see a dermatologist.
Dry scalp vs Dandruff can be confusing as both cause itchiness and flaking of the scalp. This guide will ...
4 months ago
I used to think my itchy head was due to my love for spicy street food! Turns out it was just winter dandruff. Nits are actually tiny bugs' eggs and they don't flake off like dandruff does when you blow on it. Easy to spot under a good light.
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