As a kid, we just used to bite them off continually till they were no longer there

I agree with Usurper, I wouldn't have thought to ask at the moment of being told either.
My first reaction has always been one of ignorant denial until I have a little quiet time to think.

My wife just told me it secrets insulin she thinks

mine is more like psoriasis than dandruff and I think it is related to a high stress job.
Head and Shoulders does nothing. That tar one that smells like road tar seems to help it the most but I have to use it constantly and I can never be bothered doing it every single day so the problem persists.

That road tar stuff does work though