{"id":535488,"date":"2026-03-20T21:43:18","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T21:43:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/535488\/"},"modified":"2026-03-20T21:43:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T21:43:18","slug":"why-pumpkin-seed-oil-can-help-prevent-hair-loss-and-promote-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/535488\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Pumpkin-Seed Oil Can Help Prevent Hair Loss and Promote Growth"},"content":{"rendered":"

Short hair<\/a> 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\u2019ve seen rosemary oil<\/a>, peptides<\/a>, and even red-light therapy<\/a> linked to hair growth, and now we\u2019ve got our eye on another option: pumpkin-seed oil. Not just for jack-o\u2019-lanterns and lattes, pumpkin\u2014specifically the oil from roasting, grinding, and squeezing the seeds\u2014is trending as an ingredient that can benefit your scalp and hair. Here\u2019s everything we know.<\/p>\n

How does pumpkin-seed oil work?<\/p>\n

\u201cPumpkin-seed oil<\/a> is rich in essential fatty acids, particularly omega-3<\/a> and omega-6, which help maintain healthy cell membranes and support proper cell function,\u201d says Brendan Camp, MD<\/a>, who is double board-certified in dermatology and dermatopathology and based in Manhattan. \u201cIt also contains antioxidants like vitamin E<\/a>, zinc<\/a>, and phytosterols, which can help protect hair follicles from oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which can contribute to hair thinning<\/a>.\u201d These nutrients create an environment that supports a healthy scalp<\/a>, hair-follicle health, and keratin production while reducing potential damage.<\/p>\n

What are the benefits of using pumpkin-seed oil?<\/p>\n

Pumpkin-seed oil may help prevent hair loss and promote hair growth.<\/p>\n

Preventing hair loss<\/p>\n

A 2021 study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology<\/a> investigated the effectiveness of pumpkin-seed oil (applied topically) in treating female pattern hair loss and showed promising results, comparing it with minoxidil<\/a> 5% foam (an FDA-approved hair-growth treatment) over three months.<\/p>\n

One theory behind pumpkin-seed oil\u2019s 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 \u201clowering DHT could theoretically reduce hair thinning,\u201d Dr. Camp says. However, he notes, \u201cthe evidence is limited and primarily from small clinical trials\u201d and \u201cindividual responses can vary.\u201d<\/p>\n

New York board-certified trichologist and hair-growth expert Shab Caspara<\/a> agrees. \u201cWhile small clinical studies have shown promising results, [pumpkin-seed oil] is not as potent or predictable as medical DHT blockers, so it\u2019s best viewed as a supportive, not standalone, intervention,\u201d she says. Oral finasteride<\/a>, for example, is an FDA-approved DHT blocker.<\/p>\n

Promoting hair growth<\/p>\n

A widely cited 2014 study<\/a> 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\u2019s 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 \u201cpromising\u201d but adds that more large-scale studies are needed to confirm these results.<\/p>\n

Still, both she and Dr. Camp point to some positive signs. \u201cPumpkin-seed oil may support hair growth<\/a> by providing essential fatty acids and micronutrients that promote follicle health and reduce inflammation,\u201d Dr. Camp says. \u201cA healthy scalp environment is critical for hair growth, and antioxidant activity in the oil may protect follicles from damage.\u201d<\/p>\n

Caspara adds, \u201cIts antioxidant and nutrient profile also supports follicle function, which can improve the quality and thickness of new hair over time.\u201d<\/p>\n

How do I use pumpkin-seed oil?<\/p>\n

Pumpkin-seed oil is available in capsules and as a topical oil, and Caspara and Dr. Camp have different preferences for which one to use.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Short hair may be trending, but anybody dedicated to long hair knows new growth and retention are key…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":535489,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[7828,140046,97,673],"class_list":["post-535488","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-hair","tag-haircare","tag-health","tag-wellness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/535488","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=535488"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/535488\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/535489"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=535488"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=535488"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=535488"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}