Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is Dandruff?What Is Psoriasis?SymptomsCausesTreatmentWhen to See a DoctorPrognosisFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is Dandruff?
What Is Psoriasis?
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
When to See a Doctor
Prognosis
Frequently Asked Questions
Dandruffis a common condition involving skin flakes, pruritus (itchiness), and a mild redness of the scalp. Inflammation is not a symptom of dandruff.
Psoriasis, however, is a chronic (long-term) inflammatory disease. Psoriasis can also cause dry, dandruff-like flakes, but it is a much more severe condition.
It’s important to note that although dandruff is a disease and not a symptom,dandruff-like flakesare commonly seen inscalp psoriasisand some other types of scalp conditions. The difference is where the skin breakout occurs, as well as other symptoms—such as plaques and inflammation that occur in psoriasis but not in dandruff.
This article takes a closer look at scalp psoriasis vs. dandruff.
Andrey Popov / Getty Images
Dandruff is a very common scalp condition, affecting 50 million people in the United States and nearly half of adults worldwide.
Dandruff is restricted to the scalp area, with itching and flaking without inflammation.
Dandruff: How to Spot and Manage It
Psoriasis is a long-term autoimmune disorder that can affect the scalp and other areas of the body. An autoimmune disorder is one in which the body’s immune system attacks itself.
In psoriasis, the immune system attacks healthy skin cells, causing them to have a much quicker life cycle than normal. This leaves grayish-silvery hardened skin behind, called plaques. Psoriasis cannot be cured and involves periods of flare-ups and remissions.
Studies have shown that approximately half of the cases of psoriasis involve the scalp.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNet New Zealand and © Waikato Hospitalwww.dermnetnz.org2023.
Dandruff
A common sign of dandruff that is often recognized as an initial indication of the condition is noticeable white skin flakes on the hair or shoulders, along with an itchy scalp.
Symptoms of dandruff may include:
Scalp Psoriasis
Scalp psoriasis may manifest with symptoms such as:
Hormones may also play a role in the development of dandruff; this theory arises because of the prevalence of dandruff in certain life stages when hormone levels are known to be high, such as during infancy (whencradle capis common) and adolescence, when dandruff often occurs.Factors that influence the development of dandruff flakes include:
Most people diagnosed with psoriasis have light skin, but psoriasis can occur in any race. Research studies show that 3.6% of Whites, nearly 2% of Blacks, and 1.6% of Hispanics have psoriasis.
Psoriasis tends to run in families,but some cases of psoriasis are not considered genetic.Having a grandparent, parent, brother, or sister with psoriasis increases the risk of getting it. While researchers arecertain that psoriasis isn’t contagious, they are not sure exactly what the underlying cause is.
They do know some things about factors that play a role in its development, such as:
The treatment of dandruff usually depends on the severity of the condition. For example:
Scalp psoriasis is not as easy to treat as dandruff.
Another aspect of psoriasis treatment involves eliminating triggers such as:
If your dandruff symptoms are mild, you may not need to see a doctor.
You should see a doctor when:
You should consult with a dermatologist any time you are living with psoriasis symptoms.
Consult with your healthcare provider if:
Although dandruff is not curable, the outlook/prognosis is good. Dandruff symptoms are usually controllable using medicated shampoo.
The outcome of psoriasis treatment depends on several different factors. Like dandruff, psoriasis is not curable. Unlike that condition, however, psoriasis is often difficult to manage and flare-ups are known to occur throughout one’s lifetime.
Can dandruff turn into psoriasis?
No, dandruff can’t turn into psoriasis. They are two different things.
What does scalp psoriasis feel like?
Symptoms often experienced in those with scalp psoriasis include:
Is it OK to scratch your head if you have scalp psoriasis?
Do not scratch your head if you have scalp psoriasis. Doing so could irritate your condition further and lead to complications down the line.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff: a comprehensive review.J ClinInvestig Dermatol. 2015;3(2). doi:10.13188/2373-1044.1000019Dopytalska K, Sobolewski P, Błaszczak A, Szymańska E, Walecka I.Psoriasis in special localizations.Reumatologia/Rheumatology. 2018;56(6):392-398. doi:10.5114/reum.2018.80718KidsHealth from Nemours.Dandruff.American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA).Psoriasis signs and symptoms.American Academy of Dermatology.Psoriasis causes.Michigan Medicine.Scalp problems.National Psoriasis Foundation.Dermatologist.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff: a comprehensive review.J ClinInvestig Dermatol. 2015;3(2). doi:10.13188/2373-1044.1000019Dopytalska K, Sobolewski P, Błaszczak A, Szymańska E, Walecka I.Psoriasis in special localizations.Reumatologia/Rheumatology. 2018;56(6):392-398. doi:10.5114/reum.2018.80718KidsHealth from Nemours.Dandruff.American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA).Psoriasis signs and symptoms.American Academy of Dermatology.Psoriasis causes.Michigan Medicine.Scalp problems.National Psoriasis Foundation.Dermatologist.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff: a comprehensive review.J ClinInvestig Dermatol. 2015;3(2). doi:10.13188/2373-1044.1000019Dopytalska K, Sobolewski P, Błaszczak A, Szymańska E, Walecka I.Psoriasis in special localizations.Reumatologia/Rheumatology. 2018;56(6):392-398. doi:10.5114/reum.2018.80718KidsHealth from Nemours.Dandruff.American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA).Psoriasis signs and symptoms.American Academy of Dermatology.Psoriasis causes.Michigan Medicine.Scalp problems.National Psoriasis Foundation.Dermatologist.
Seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff: a comprehensive review.J ClinInvestig Dermatol. 2015;3(2). doi:10.13188/2373-1044.1000019
Dopytalska K, Sobolewski P, Błaszczak A, Szymańska E, Walecka I.Psoriasis in special localizations.Reumatologia/Rheumatology. 2018;56(6):392-398. doi:10.5114/reum.2018.80718
KidsHealth from Nemours.Dandruff.
American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA).Psoriasis signs and symptoms.
American Academy of Dermatology.Psoriasis causes.
Michigan Medicine.Scalp problems.
National Psoriasis Foundation.Dermatologist.
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