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Dandruff is a common and often chronic (ongoing) scalp condition. It is characterized by excessive shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp.

For most people, the signs and symptoms of dandruff are obvious. They typically include:

• White or gray, oily-looking flakes on the scalp, hair and clothing
  
  
• Pruritus (itchiness)

In addition, excessive scratching may cause breaks in the skin that can increase the risk of secondary skin infection. For this reason, it is important to seek medical treatment promptly if excessive and persistent itchiness occurs.

Patients should also consult a physician (dermatologist) if symptoms are severe and accompanied by redness and inflammation of the scalp. This may indicate the presence of a related condition, such as seborrheic dermatitis.

In some cases, dandruff may be mistaken for head lice, which is an infestation of an insect in the hair. Many physicians believe that misidentification is common, particularly among school-aged children, and has led to an over-diagnosis of head lice. Nits (lice eggs) can be distinguished from dandruff because they are firmly attached to the hair and hard to remove. Dandruff, on the other hand, can easily be flicked off the hair. In addition, nits are tiny and yellowish-white or gray in color, while dandruff is larger and white.