Difference Between Head Lice & Dandruff

Lice is the term given to tiny parasitic bugs that feed on human blood and live in hair. Dandruff is a common skin condition that occurs when a scalp is too dry or irritated.

Identification of Lice

A lice bug (or louse) is a six-legged insect roughly the size of a sesame seed and yellowish brown in color. Lice grip the hair tightly and cannot simply be washed out.

Identification of Dandruff

Dandruff can be recognized as white flakes of dead skin that can vary in size. They can be easily moved on a hair shaft and can be moved off the hair if you blow on it.

Symptoms of Lice

The most prominent sign of lice is the intense itching it causes. Sometimes people can even feel the bugs crawling.

Symptoms of Dandruff

Dandruff can also cause itching, varying in intensity depending on the severity of the case.

Is It Lice or Dandruff?

The golden rule of lice identification is that if you can move the object with a light touch or by blowing on it, it's dandruff. Lice crawl too fast to really be seen, and lice eggs (nits) are actually glued to the hair shaft and cannot be moved unless cut off or extracted with a special comb.

References

• Harvard School of Public Health: Lice