MOGLORD · WEB STORY

Flakes on your shoulders — but which kind?

Two lookalike problems, two opposite fixes. The 30-second test.

THE CONFUSION

Same flakes, different causes

Dandruff and dry scalp look identical in the mirror. Treating the wrong one makes flakes worse.

DANDRUFF · LOOK

Large, yellowish, oily flakes

Dandruff flakes are bigger, often yellow-tinted, and stick to the scalp and hair instead of falling.

DANDRUFF · FEEL

Itchy, greasy, sometimes red

It's linked to a yeast that feeds on scalp oil. Expect itch, oiliness, flakes in brows or beard too.

DRY SCALP · LOOK

Small, white, powdery flakes

Dry scalp flakes are tiny and white, and they fall easily onto your shoulders like dust.

DRY SCALP · FEEL

Tight, dry skin elsewhere too

Dry scalp is just dry skin on your head. If your face and hands are also dry, that's your answer.

THE FIX · DANDRUFF

Anti-fungal shampoo, left on

Use a ketoconazole shampoo 2–3× a week. Lather, wait 3–5 minutes, then rinse. Contact time matters.

THE FIX · DRY

Moisturize, wash less

Switch to a gentle shampoo, wash less often, and add a light scalp moisturizer or oil before washing.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Look at the flake, then treat

Oily and stuck = dandruff. Small and dusty = dry scalp. The full guide has both routines in detail.

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