Lice vs Dandruff: How to Tell the Difference and Treat Each Properly

Head lice and dandruff share many similarities. That’s why so many people treat lice like dandruff and end up wondering why nothing is working. 

And in a country like Nigeria, where people still use kerosene or other unconventional hair products to treat scalp problems, the confusion can persist for weeks.

Head lice are tiny insects that live in the hair and feed on blood from the scalp. They lay eggs called nits, which stick tightly to hair strands.

Unlike dandruff, lice:

• Are alive

• Can move

• Are highly contagious

You can get lice from sharing:

• Combs and brushes

• Hats and scarves

• Pillows

• Close head-to-head contact

That’s why lice spread quickly in schools, salons, hostels, and even public transport.

Read Also: How to Make Your Hair Grow Faster: What Works and What Doesn't

Dandruff is a scalp condition caused by irritation, excess oil, or a yeast that naturally lives on the skin. It leads to:

• White or yellow flakes

• Dry or oily scalp

• Mild itching

• Flakes falling easily from the hair.

Dandruff is not contagious. You can’t “catch” it from someone else. It often worsens with stress, poor hair care, harsh shampoos, or improper hair washing.

Read Also: Why Your Hair Keeps Breaking And the Smartest Ways to Fix It 

Lice show up with serious itching. If your scalp suddenly feels like something is moving around, pay attention. One of the primary signs of lice is a persistent crawling or tickling feeling, especially behind the ears and at the back of the neck.

If you part the hair close to the scalp, you may see:

• Tiny greyish or brown insects are moving.

• Small white or yellowish dots glued to the hair strands (these are lice eggs, called nits)

Unlike dandruff, these eggs do not fall off when you shake or brush your hair. You actually have to pull them off with your fingers or a comb.

Dandruff is much more familiar to most people. It’s the white or yellow flakes that drop onto your shoulders when you scratch or shake your head. The scalp may feel dry or slightly itchy, but it usually doesn’t feel like anything is crawling on it.

Other signs of dandruff include:

• A tight or dry scalp

• Flaking gets worse when your hair is dirty.

• Flakes that easily brush off your hair and clothes

If washing your hair reduces the flakes, it’s almost always dandruff.

Read Also: The Simple Way to Use Glycolic Acid on Your Scalp

Lice come with intense itching, a crawling feeling, and eggs that cling tightly to hair. Dandruff comes with dryness, mild itching, and flakes that fall freely.

Another pattern to watch is spread. Dandruff stays on your scalp. Lice spread to other people. If a child, sibling, or partner suddenly starts itching after you, lice are likely the cause.

Treating them the same way is a mistake, so it’s important to know what you’re dealing with.

Lice are different. Normal shampoo won’t kill them. To permanently get rid of lice, you need:

• Medicated lice treatment or shampoo containing permethrin and pyrethrin. This is recommended for adults and children over 2 years of age. 

• A fine lice comb to remove eggs.

• Wash all bedding, clothes, and pillowcases in very hot water and dry them using a high heat setting before and after 7 to 10 days of applying the medicated shampoo. 

Everyone in close contact should be checked, or it will keep spreading. Home remedies like oil or vinegar may slow lice down, but they don’t reliably kill the eggs.

Dandruff is usually easy to manage.

You can treat it with:

• Anti-dandruff shampoo containing coal tar, salicylic acid, ketoconazole, or selenium sulfide

• Gently wash your scalp at least twice weekly.

• Apply moisturising oils

• Avoid harsh hair chemicals.

Consistency matters. Washing once won’t solve it. Most people see results after 2–3 weeks.

Read Also: Switch to These 7 Shampoos & Say Goodbye to Dandruff

To prevent lice:

• Avoid sharing combs, hats, or other hair accessories.

• Avoid close head-to-head contact.

• Keep hair tools clean.

To prevent dandruff:

• Wash your hair regularly.

• Use gentle, moisturising shampoos.

• Avoid heavy buildup from oils and styling products.

When you keep your scalp clean and know what signs to look out for, you can stop both problems before they get worse.

See a healthcare provider if:

• The itching becomes severe.

• There is redness, sores, or infection.

• Treatments don’t work after two weeks.

Persistent scalp problems can lead to hair damage if ignored.

Lice and dandruff may look similar, but they are completely different problems with completely different treatments. The next time white flakes show up on your shoulders, you’ll know exactly what you’re dealing with and how to handle it.

Read Next: 5 Products That Help You Treat Dandruff and Keep It Under Control 

If the white flakes fall off easily, it is dandruff. If they stick to the hair or move, they are lice.

The first signs of lice include intense itching, a crawling feeling on the scalp, and tiny white eggs stuck near the hair roots.

Yes. Having dandruff does not protect you from lice. You can have both at the same time.

A dry scalp causes flakes that fall off easily. Lice cause itching and white eggs that stick firmly to the hair.

No. Dandruff may itch, but it does not create a crawling sensation. That feeling is more common with lice.

No. Dandruff is a scalp condition. Lice are insects. One cannot turn into the other.

No. Lice can live in both clean and dirty hair. They spread through close contact and shared items.

No. Anti-dandruff shampoos do not kill lice or their eggs. Lice require special medicated treatment.

No. Lice will continue to multiply unless treated with proper lice medication and combing.

Yes, black people can get lice. While less common than in other populations, they can and do get head lice. They are not immune.