Q. My face looked like a dry glazed donut for eight years, until I read your column about using milk of magnesia on the face and scalp. My dermatologist had been treating my scalp but I got nowhere. Both problems disappeared after one application of MoM.
A. Milk of magnesia (magnesium hydroxide aka MoM) has been used for more than a century as an oral laxative. More recently we have heard from readers that if this chalky liquid is applied to underarms it acts as a deodorant.
Someone else told us that topical applications of milk of magnesia on the face while showering could be effective for flakes. Another reader shared her success story: “ I tried the milk of magnesia on my daughter's terrible seborrhea after using countless remedies and prescription shampoos, and it has made a real difference. We were already using Lotrimin and Nizoral shampoo (prescription strength). MoM has really helped and it is inexpensive. Hurray!”
