I am Joe Graedon. I am a pharmacologist. I write the newspaper column called “The People’s Pharmacy” and a co-host to a radio show. Have you ever had any flex in your shoulder, itchy scalp, and dastardly dandruff? It would not kill you but it is kind of embarrassing, what should you do about it?

Well, there are so many dandruff shampoos on pharmacy shells and they are all work pretty well. So whether it is Selsun, Blues or head and shoulders, my favorite Nizoral, they all have anti-fungal properties and the reason that is important is because dandruff is probably caused by fungus. Yeast, yeasty bites is what I like to refer to them. And all of this anti-fungus will actually do something to get rid of the yeast, but only if you use them in rotation. In other words, do not get attached to one particular brand and use it for months on in. Rotate about every two or three weeks. Change from one product to a different kind of ingredients. So you might start with Selsun, you might move to head and shoulders. You might try Nizoral for a couple of weeks and then a little T-gel.

Now if you want to try something unique, really different, well how about old fashion Listerine mouth wash. Yeah, the original amber color. The ingredients in Listerine have anti-fungal properties too, plus there is some alcohol in there what you do is you rinse with Listerine all for two or three minutes after your shampoo. People tell us this is amazing stuff for getting rid of dandruff and taking away the itch and the flakes.

Here is another possibly, white vinegar. Again, one part vinegar, three or four parts water, rinse for about three or four minutes and it seems to take away the itch and flakes. And if you really think desperate, you can try the Vics Vaporub. It has anti-fungal ingredients as well. The only problem is that Vaseline, it could be really hard to get out of your hair.