Dandruff or Just a Dry Scalp? How to Tell

Dandruff is typically linked to a yeast overgrowth on the scalp and tends to produce oilier, yellowish flakes, often alongside itching.

A dry scalp, on the other hand, produces smaller, drier white flakes and is more related to environmental factors or over-washing than a fungal cause.

Using an anti-fungal treatment on a simply dry scalp — or a heavy moisturiser on fungal dandruff — can actually make things worse, which is why a proper diagnosis matters.