Q. I read an article in your column about using Listerine for itchy scalp. It reminded me that forty-plus years ago when I was a glue chemist, we kept a crystal of thymol in our pH buffers to prevent the growth of organisms like fungi and bactera.
I tried sloshing Listerine on a paper towel and applying it to my scalp. It worked. I reasoned that since Listerine is okay in the mouth, it should be safe for regular skin. Listerine turns out to be wonderful for treating jock itch, smelly feet and the condition the British describe as “trucker’s bottom.”
A. We can only imagine what trucker’s bottom might be, but it certainly sounds unpleasant. Several of the herbal extracts in Listerine, including thymol, have antifungal properties and may be helpful against these fungal afflictions.
