While both can be itchy, lice can cause severe itching.
Lice and dandruff are harmless conditions that won’t cause long-term health problems.
Both can be treated safely and effectively at home.
Illustration by Jessica Olah for Verywell Health
hirun / Getty Images
Lice
Certain symptoms and patterns occur with a head lice infestation.
While lice is a parasitic infection, dandruff is a skin condition.
Head-to-head contact is the most common way to transmit lice.
hirun / Getty Images
For example, if you hug someone with lice, the lice can crawl from their head to yours.
Although lice cannot jump or fly, they can also be transmitted when you share hats or hairbrushes.
Young children are most at risk because they frequently have hair-to-hair contact with others at daycare or school.
Rocky89 / Getty Images
Higher-risk occupations include teachers, daycare workers, and babysitters.
Dandruff is a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis.
How do I check myself for lice?
To check for lice and dandruff, start by parting the hair and examining the scalp.
When you have dandruff, your scalp will appear either very oily or very dry.
The flakes will be coming from the scalp and are easily brushed away.
Lice lay their eggs on the hair shaft about 1/4 inch from the scalp.
The eggs are firmly secured to the hair and cannot be brushed away.
Adult lice live on the scalp and usually appear tan, brown, or black.
Sometimes a magnifying glass is helpful for identifying adult lice on the scalp.
Treatment
Most cases of lice and dandruff can be successfully treated at home.
Lice can usually be treated at home with an over-the-counter medicated shampoo according to the package directions.
It is also important to carefully comb the nits out of the hair with a metal nit comb.
A metal nit comb is best for removing nits.
This is often based on their age and weight.
The shampoo will need to be used twice, about one week apart.
These treatments have not been proven effective and are not recommended.
Avoid using conditioner in the hair until it is completely free of lice and nits.
Conditioner can act as a barrier that blocks the medicated shampoo from adhering to and treating the hair shaft.
Vacuum any areas where the person with lice lay down, such as carpets and furniture.
Any items that cannot be washed or vacuumed should be sealed in a plastic bag for two weeks.
If over-the-counter treatments have not been effective, see your healthcare provider.
Its possible that the lice are resistant to the over-the-counter treatment and you need a prescription medication.
An antibiotic may be needed.Your local health department may also be able to help.
Dandruff can also be treated at home with over-the-counter shampoo.
Start by shampooing twice per week with an anti-dandruff shampoo.
Keeping the dandruff shampoos in contact with your hair for five to 10 minutes is most effective.
If using an anti-dandruff shampoo does not provide any relief, see your dermatologist.
Sometimes dandruff is resulting from a yeast infection that requires an antifungal to treat.
Autoimmune Conditions
Some autoimmune conditions such aspsoriasisoreczemacan appear as dandruff but require more specialized treatment.
Regular use of dandruff shampoo may help keep flaking under control.
Discourage your children from having hair-to-hair contact while playing with their friends and avoid sharing hairbrushes or hats.
Summary
Dandruff and head lice cause similar types of itching, but they are different conditions.
Dandruff will appear as white or yellow flakes of dry skin.
Adult lice are darker in color and about the size of a sesame seed.
Usually, both conditions can be effectively treated at home.
Invest in a medicated shampoo, and carefully comb the hair if you’re removing lice nits.
Talk with your healthcare provider before treating young children or if your at-home treatments have not been successful.
They will be able to diagnose your condition and recommend the safest and most effective treatment.
National Library of Medicine.Head lice.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About head lice.
Borda LJ, Wikramanayake TC.Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff: a comprehensive review.J Clin Investig Dermatol.
2015;3(2):10.13188/2373-1044.1000019.
2023;122(2):425-433. doi:10.1007/s00436-022-07737-8
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Head lice.
2023;15(9):e45028.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to treat dandruff.
