What is the difference between head lice and dandruff

It is also vital to comb nits out of the hair. People should follow the procedure on the shampoo packaging. Over-the-counter OTC lice remedies work well, but some lice are resistant to these medicines. 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. Head lice symptoms are usually focused on these areas as well. First up: dandruff. Compared to head lice, dandruff is fairly simple to deal with.

A proven dandruff shampoo will help soothe the symptoms of dandruff, while helping to neutralize the cause and washing away any flakes.

For best effect, use your dandruff shampoo every time you wash your hair. Dandruff is a chronic condition which will come back if untreated. Head lice hatch every seven to ten days, with a total life cycle of about four weeks.

Any treatment, therefore, needs to take this into account. Start with an over-the-counter head lice solution. While you do this, you should also invest in a metal or plastic lice comb. These fine-tooth combs are designed to remove the eggs from the hair follicle. You should use your comb every day for about an hour, cleaning the comb of nits and lice on a disposable tissue or towel between strokes. The key method to diagnose head lice vs. If a nit is found, this does not always mean there is an active infestation of head lice.

Sometimes dandruff flakes can be confused as nits, and vice versa. The way to tell the difference between nits and dandruff is that dandruff is much more easily removed from the hair, whereas nits are glued to the hair shaft. If you can remove the white speck easily then it is dry skin dandruff , if not, it could be a nit.

The treatment for these two conditions is very different, hence it is important to correctly diagnose. There are simple steps you can follow if you find your child has head lice. You can also use the following treatments:. If there are no bugs crawling about your head but an excessive amount of dry skin on the scalp and your clothes, then the following treatments can be used to manage the presence of dandruff:.

If you need help examining the scalp for head lice or dandruff, you could visit your local pharmacy for more advice. There can be a stigma around having head lice or dandruff, yet neither of these conditions are dangerous.