SYMPTOM CHECKER: PITYRIASIS ROSEA OR DANDRUFF?
Pityriasis rosea is a fairly common skin condition that shares a symptom or two with dandruff. But it’s not hard to tell the difference.
Dandruff and pityriasis rosea don’t have much in common, except that both conditions may itch.
To understand why, let’s discuss each condition separately, starting with dandruff.
What is dandruff?
A yeast-like fungus called Malassezia globosa lives on all our scalps. Typically it’s harmless, but some people have a sensitivity to its by-product, oleic acid. In these cases, you can expect symptoms that include:
Itching
Dry flakes in the hair and on the scalp
A red, irritated scalp
Dandruff is, luckily, quite easy to treat.
Use an anti-dandruff shampoo for two weeks –ideally every time you wash- to take care of the problem. Since dandruff is a chronic condition which will return if not treated, continue a maintenance routine of regularly using dandruff shampoo even after flakes disappear.
Pityriasis rosea, by contrast, is another kettle of fish.