Short hair may be trending, but anybody dedicated to long hair knows new growth and retention are key to a healthy head of hair. Over the years, we’ve seen rosemary oil, peptides and even red-light therapy linked to hair growth and now we’ve got our eye on another option: pumpkin seed oil. Not just for jack-o’-lanterns and lattes, pumpkin (specifically the oil from roasting, grinding and squeezing the seeds of it) is trending as an ingredient that can benefit your scalp and hair. Here’s everything we know.
How does pumpkin seed oil work?
“Pumpkin seed oil is rich in essential fatty acids, particularly omega-3 and omega-6, which help maintain healthy cell membranes and support proper cell function,” says Brendan Camp, who is double board-certified in dermatology and dermatopathology. “It also contains antioxidants like vitamin E, zinc and phytosterols, which can help protect hair follicles from oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which can contribute to hair thinning.” These nutrients create an environment that supports a healthy scalp, hair-follicle health and keratin production while reducing potential damage.
What are the benefits of using pumpkin seed oil?
Pumpkin seed oil may help prevent hair loss and promote hair growth:
Preventing hair loss
A 2021 study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology investigated the effectiveness of pumpkin seed oil (applied topically) in treating female pattern hair loss and showed promising results, comparing it with minoxidil 5% foam (an FDA-approved hair-growth treatment) over three months.
One theory behind pumpkin seed oil’s success lies in its phytosterols. Although most commonly known for helping lower cholesterol, phytosterols may inhibit 5-alpha reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Excess DHT is tied to pattern hair loss in men and women, so “lowering DHT could theoretically reduce hair thinning,” Dr Camp says. However, he notes, “the evidence is limited and primarily from small clinical trials” and “individual responses can vary.”
New York board-certified trichologist and hair-growth expert Shab Caspara agrees, “While small clinical studies have shown promising results, [pumpkin seed oil] is not as potent or predictable as medical DHT blockers, so it’s best viewed as a supportive (not standalone) intervention,” she says.
Promoting hair growth
A widely cited 2014 study examined the effects of a 400 mg pumpkin seed oil supplement on hair growth in men with pattern hair loss over 24 weeks and found that the mean hair count increased by 40% in the pumpkin-seed-oil group compared with a 10% increase in the placebo group. However, it’s important to note that other ingredients were present in the supplement and the study said it could not explain the exact action pumpkin seed oil had on its group. Caspara calls the results “promising” but adds that more large-scale studies are needed to confirm these results.
Still, both she and Dr Camp point to some positive signs. “Pumpkin seed oil may support hair growth by providing essential fatty acids and micronutrients that promote follicle health and reduce inflammation,” Dr Camp says. “A healthy scalp environment is critical for hair growth and antioxidant activity in the oil may protect follicles from damage.”
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: vogue.in
