Hair can also have many infections and problems related to the scalp. Lice and Nits are one of them that causes itchiness in the hair.
On the other hand, various types of infections, such as yeast infections and fungal infections, cause Dandruff in the hair.
But sometimes, these dandruff flakes and nits eggs are confused with one another as they both have the same appearance.
But the fact is, they both are completely different types of things though they happen on the hair scalp.
Key Takeaways
- Nits are head lice eggs securely attached to the hair shaft, while dandruff flakes are loose, dry skin particles.
- Nits are oval-shaped and about the size of a pinhead, while dandruff flakes are irregularly shaped and vary in size.
- Treatment for head lice involves using medicated shampoos or lotions, while dandruff can be managed with anti-dandruff shampoos and proper scalp care.
Nits Eggs vs Dandruff Flakes
Nit eggs, laid by lice, attach to hair strands close to the scalp and are oval, hard, and shiny, yellow or white. Dandruff flakes are loose skin cells from the scalp that have flaked off, appearing white or grey, and can be easily brushed off the hair.
Nits eggs are potential lice stuck in the hair directly and feed on the human blood.
They are eggs and are not easy to remove as they come with a sticky glue-like substance coated on them that sticks to the scalp and the hair shaft.
They are very contagious and can be spread from one person to another who has these nites eggs.
Dandruff is not a type of parasite but just the dead skin cells that are caused due to any infection.
They are not contagious and can be easily removed just by combing the hair properly and flicking it. They are treated using many natural methods, as well as dandruff shampoo.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Nits Eggs | Dandruff Flakes |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | They are the eggs of a parasite that resides in the hair called lice and they feed on human blood. | They are the dead skin in the head that turns into itchy skin and produce flakes of white color. |
| Contagion | Nits eggs are parasites and they grow as lice causing the infestation and can because when in contact with a person having lice, thus not contagious. | They are dead skin cells and they cannot grow further, and also not in coming in contact with a person having dandruff thus they are not contagious. |
| Removal | They contain a glue-like substance from which they attach themselves and are thus hard to remove. | They are easy to remove and can be done only by flicking or combing the hair or by applying dandruff shampoo. |
| Location | They are mainly present in the warmer place such as the neck of the head, near the temples, or behind the ears. | They can be present anywhere in the scalp of the hair. |
| Appearance | Ther are attached to the hair where the lice lay eggs. | They are not directly attached to the hair and are also easy to remove. |
What are Nits Eggs?
The eggs of lice are known as Nits eggs. They are the parasites that are present in the hair and feed on the human blood.
They are mainly found in places which are warmer such as the neckline, behind the ear, etc. They can be severely itchy to have nits eggs and are potential lice that are also contagious.
They are not harmful, but they are very hard to remove. Unlike Dandruff, Nits eggs are not just flaked and removed.
They got some sticky substances on them that don’t let them go and stick to the hair shaft. They can also cause bloody spots on heads due to severe itching.
What is Dandruff Flakes?
Dandruff flakes are not parasites. They are just dead skin that happens due to dry skin conditions or some yeast infection.
They are not like nits and can be removed easily. They are also not contagious as they don’t spread from one person to another. Like Nits eggs, they are not harmful and cause less itchiness than nits eggs.
They cannot grow like Nits eggs and can be treated very easily. They can be just combed and flaked and removed.
One can recognize the dandruff flakes when one notices white or yellow flakes on clothes or flaky and itchy skin.
Main Differences Between Nits Eggs and Dandruff Flakes
- Nits eggs are basically the eggs of lice that are parasites that live in the hair, whereas Dandruff flakes are not a type of parasite but dead skin cells.
- Nits eggs are not easy to remove as because they are directly attached to the hair, whereas Dandruff flakes are not directly attached to the hair, and thus removal is not hard.
- Nits eggs mostly appear on places where it is warmer, like behind ears or near the temple, whereas Dandruff flakes appear on the scalp of the hair.
- Nits eggs are contagious because they can spread from the direct contact of the person having lice in their hair, whereas Dandruff is not contagious because it cannot spread from a person’s contact.
- Nits eggs grow further to become lice, whereas Dandruff is just the dead skin cells that will not grow.
- The ingredient used to treat nits eggs is pyrethrin or permethrin, whereas, for Dandruff, the ingredients used are zinc pyrithione or salicylic acid.
- https://wchh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/psb.200617113
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1525-1470.2001.018001009.x
Last Updated : 13 July, 2023
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Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
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