Pumpkin Seed Oil for Hair Loss

A 2021 study found that pumpkin seed oil was similarly effective to topical minoxidil at treating female pattern hair loss over 3 months. Another study in 2014 found that pumpkin seed oil was significantly more effective than placebo at treating male pattern hair loss (androgenic alopecia) over 24 weeks. Pumpkin seed oil likely blocks 5-alpha reductase, an enzyme that converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone and plays a role in androgenic alopecia. No significant adverse effects were seen.

Ibrahim IM, Hasan MS, Elsabaa KI, Elsaie ML. Pumpkin seed oil vs. minoxidil 5% topical foam for the treatment of female pattern hair loss: A randomized comparative trial. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021 Sep;20(9):2867-2873. doi: 10.1111/jocd.13976. Epub 2021 Feb 12. PMID: 33544448.

Cho YH, Lee SY, Jeong DW, Choi EJ, Kim YJ, Lee JG, Yi YH, Cha HS. Effect of pumpkin seed oil on hair growth in men with androgenetic alopecia: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014;2014:549721. doi: 10.1155/2014/549721. Epub 2014 Apr 23. PMID: 24864154; PMCID: PMC4017725.