Dry scalp and dandruff goes hand in hand. This is the popular perception. Most people think dry scalp and dandruff are related because both cause itchiness and a sense of dryness. Besides, both look whitish in color when they are scraped off or when they fall down from your hair onto your shoulders. The reality is that there is a huge difference between dry scalp and dandruff. Not only are they different but they are quite opposite in their nature and formation.
Dry scalp is a natural phenomenon. It is caused due to the new cells that grow on your scalp and owing to dryness. The first cause is simple enough to be understood. Like any other part of the body, new skin cells replace old skin cells. The old skin cells which are on the topmost dermal layer would then fall off. At the time when new cells are obtaining all the nutrition and the old cells are cut off from the blood circulation and nutrition supply, the old cells die and they become dry. This causes dry scalp in all people.
Regardless of gender, age and lifestyle, this process is common among all. The only time you wouldn’t have dry scalp is when your skin doesn’t generate new cells which is in old age. The second cause of dry scalp is dryness. Your scalp may be dry due to weather conditions, due to food habits or due to any specific material that you may have used on your hair.
The cause of dandruff is very different from the aforementioned. Dandruff is caused by yeast which feeds on the oil on your scalp and also gorges on the dead skin cells. In other words, it is not dry scalp that causes dandruff or the two are the same condition. Dandruff is caused due to excessive oil and skin cells which facilitate the growth of the yeast on the scalp.
There is a difference between dry scalp and dandruff even in their colors while they both appear to be the same. Dandruff would be slightly yellowish and not as white as dry scalp. Also, the flakes of dandruff would be much larger than dry scalp flakes.
Dandruff can be caused by various factors, unlike dry scalp which has only two causes. Dandruff can be caused due to improper diets, unhealthy lifestyles, and excessive use of harsh hair products, anxiety and stress, lack of proper hygiene and many other factors.
