Not all dandruff is the same, which explains why the same anti-dandruff shampoo provides relief for some people and not for others. Dry or oily dandruff has a different appearance, different skin type—and certainly not the same treatment requirements.
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Oily dandruff: when sebum feeds yeast
Oily dandruff, also called seborrheic dandruff, appears on a scalp that produces excess sebum . This abundant sebum promotes the proliferation of Malassezia , a yeast naturally present on the scalp, whose excessive presence triggers an inflammatory reaction and flaking.
- Thick, yellowish scales that adhere to the scalp
- An oily and shiny scalp, the day after washing
- Frequent itching, often accompanied by redness
The first question I ask isn't "Do you have dandruff?" but "Does it fall onto your shoulders or does it stick to your scalp?" This single detail dictates the entire routine. Sticky flakes and a shiny scalp aren't treated like white glitter on a tight, itchy scalp.
Dry dandruff: a flaky scalp
Dry dandruff forms on a scalp whose skin barrier is weakened—by harsh shampoos, an alkaline pH, cold weather, or heating. The flaking process accelerates, releasing fine particles that detach on their own. Malassezia can also be involved, but the underlying cause is dryness, not excess sebum.
- White, fine, light scales that fall onto the shoulders
- A dry, tight, and sometimes red scalp
- Mild to moderate itching, often after shampooing
Dry or oily dandruff: the five-criteria test
Observe these elements to determine which category you fall into:
- The color: white and thin, or yellowish and thick
- Their behavior: they fall off on their own, or they stay stuck together.
- The condition of the scalp: it feels tight, or it becomes shiny in less than twenty-four hours
- Itching: mild after washing, or persistent with redness
- The time frame for reappearance: gradual over several days, or starting the next day.
If the scales form thick plaques with well-defined edges, it may not be dandruff but scalp psoriasis.
Verified review
"I've been testing this routine for over a month and a half to get rid of my
scalp problems, and to tell you the truth, I'm still blown away by the results. After years of all kinds of treatments and medications, I no longer have any dandruff or itching."
Manon C., a customer for 2 months
Discover the solutionHow to treat dry and oily dandruff?
The basic principle is the same for both: to avoid further irritating an already unbalanced scalp, therefore a gentle wash at pH 5 and daily soothing of itching. The targeted step differs. For oily dandruff, the focus is on purifying the roots and removing the thickened sebum that feeds the yeast. For dry dandruff, the focus is on gently exfoliating the adherent flakes and rebuilding the surface lipid film.
Anti-Oily Dandruff & DS Protocol
Complete treatment for oily dandruff & DS
To remember
- Oily dandruff comes from an excess of sebum that feeds Malassezia
- Dry dandruff originates from a weakened skin barrier.
- The decisive criterion: do the scales fall off on their own or remain stuck together?
- Washing less often improves neither type
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