Q. There is an ad in a vintage Good Housekeeping magazine from October 1927 where Listerine mouthwash is recommended for women with bad skin. I find that nothing is really new and that Listerine has been used for treating skin problems for decades.
A. We have not been able to find the advertisement you referred to. Listerine was introduced to physicians in 1879 for use as a surgical antiseptic. In 1914 it was brought to the market as the first commercial mouthwash.
Readers have told us that Listerine is helpful against dandruff, jock itch, nail fungus, lice and blemishes. The FDA only sanctions its use as a mouthwash.
