What if the little flakes you see in your hair were actually dandruff? Both phenomena, whose appearance factors are varied, can be easily confused.

Hence the importance of identifying them, to locate the appropriate treatment. Dandruff is considered a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis which can be explained by dry skin, skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis or the malassezia fungus, among others. Flaking manifests itself through the formation of adhered plaques at the base of the scalp.

The experts from the Sevillian sulfate-free shampoo firm Dalire explain to us how to differentiate both phenomena:

1. Look at the scales: One of the first things you should look at is the type of flake you see falling either It builds up in your hair. Those of dandruff They are clearly small, dry, white either transparent. Those of the peeling They are white and yellow, large and fat.

2. Itching: The dandruff It is a problem that usually arises due to the presence of a fungus that feeds on the bacteria present in the sebum produced by our scalp. It can be aesthetically bothersome, but it does not usually itch. Instead, the peeling It usually occurs due to an excessively dry scalp, which often leads to the fact that in addition to the flakes, we notice intense itching and even the scalp turning red.

3. Where is it positioned?: The dandruff It usually occurs on the scalp, but is so small that it falls directly from the hair to the shoulders, which is why we always notice it when we see it on our clothes. Instead, the peeling It produces larger scales that catch on the scalp and along the hair.

4. Hair appearance: Aside from the presence of scales, the appearance of the hair looks different when there are dandruff either peeling. In the case of having dandruffwe can show off well-combed and soft hair thanks to styling tools and masks, but with the peelingdryness becomes more evident and hair looks dull, frizzy and brittle.

5. They don’t treat each other the same: Lastly, the treatment must be different for the dandruff that for the peeling. Having identified everything we have mentioned, also distinguish between the shampoo to use against dandruff and he who faces the peeling.

Attentive to care

Keep in mind that using anti-dandruff shampoos does not prevent dandruff. As confirmed by Dr. Carlos Portinha, physician, Chief Clinical Officer of the Insparya Group: “Anti-dandruff shampoos should not be used preventively. It is a serious mistake. We will only use this type of treatment when a peeling problem really appears, and always taking into account that it will be applied for a certain period of time.”

Víctor López, from the TH Cosmetics group distributed in Spain by the American firm California Mango, especially recommends those shampoos that do not have sulfates so that the damage is less: “Sulfates are highly irritating and responsible for the color being much less durable, which also affects hair loss.

In addition, they alter sebum secretion and that generates more dandruff and itching. Sulfate-free shampoos are easily recognizable because they do not generate foam and do not usually smell except for fruits, flowers or plants in some brands.”

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