Pumpkin seed oil for hair and skin: what we know

Pumpkin seed oil is a rich plant oil that you can use on your hair and skin. Two small studies found signs of hair regrowth after 3 to 6 months, but neither proves that it treats hair loss. Use it as a cosmetic oil, and see a doctor if you are worried about losing hair. This guide is for visitors who want to try it in Sharm or take it home.

What is pumpkin seed oil?

Pumpkin seed oil is made from the seeds of the pumpkin, Cucurbita pepo. The seeds are rich in unsaturated fats, mainly linoleic and oleic acid. They also contain vitamin E (tocopherols), plant sterols and squalene.

In Austria, a pumpkin variety from Styria gives a well-known dark green, edible oil with a nutty aroma. So pumpkin seed oil is sold both as a food and as a cosmetic, and the label tells you which one you have.

We stock Lotus pumpkin seed oil, made by TNG, a cosmetics company founded in Egypt. Ask us to show you the label before you buy.

What the research says about hair

Capsules in men (2014). In a trial in South Korea, 76 men with mild to moderate male pattern hair loss took capsules or a placebo for 24 weeks. Hair counts rose by 40% in the pumpkin seed oil group and by 10% in the placebo group.

Read this result with care:

• The capsules were a branded supplement, Octa Sabal Plus, taken by mouth. The oil was not put on the hair.
• The trial was small and short, and a company grant funded it.
• A published comment noted that results for the front of the head were not reported. It suggested studies of at least a year.
• The authors said their results need to be repeated.

Oil on the scalp in women (2021). Dermatologists at Al-Azhar University in Cairo tested pumpkin seed oil in 60 women with female pattern hair loss. Half applied pumpkin seed oil to the scalp, and half used minoxidil 5% foam, an approved hair loss medicine, for 3 months. Both groups showed some improvement when doctors examined the scalp with a dermoscope.

This trial was also small and short, and there was no placebo group. It does not show that pumpkin seed oil works as well as minoxidil.

In short. A 2023 review of natural hair loss remedies called these early results promising, but said more research is needed. Pumpkin seed oil is not a proven treatment for hair loss. If you are worried about hair loss, see a doctor, and do not stop a treatment your doctor prescribed.

What about skin?

Early research is looking at pumpkin seed oil for the skin, mostly in the laboratory. It is too early to say what it does. Many people simply use it as a body oil for dry skin.

Food oil or cosmetic oil? Read the label

• Food oil is labelled for cooking or salads.
• Cosmetic oil is labelled for skin and hair, often with “for external use only”. Do not eat it.
• Capsules are supplements. Ask a doctor or pharmacist first, especially if you take other medicines or are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Only eat pumpkin seed oil if its label says it is for food use. If you are not sure which kind you have, show us the bottle.

Safety

• Allergy. Do not use it if you are allergic to pumpkin or pumpkin seeds.
• Patch test. Put a little on the inside of your elbow for 7 to 10 days before you use it on your face or scalp. An allergic rash can take several days to appear.
• Eyes. Keep it away from your eyes.
• Children. Ask our pharmacist before using it on a child.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Ask your doctor before you start a new product or supplement.

If a rash or itching starts, wash the oil off and stop using it.

How to use pumpkin seed oil

On hair, before washing

1. Do a patch test first.
2. Massage a few drops into your scalp and the lengths of your hair.
3. Leave it on for a while, then wash it out with shampoo.
4. Use less on fine hair. Too much oil can make hair look greasy.

On dry ends and skin

Smooth 1 or 2 drops over towel-dried ends. For the body, smooth a few drops over damp skin after a shower. Pumpkin seed oil is not a sunscreen.

How to choose and store it

Check the label for:

• the Latin name, Cucurbita pepo;
• pumpkin seed oil as the only ingredient, if you want a pure oil;
• whether it is for food or cosmetic use;
• the extraction method, such as cold-pressed, if it is given;
• an expiry date and an unbroken seal.

Keep the bottle closed, in a cool, dark place. If the oil smells sour or different, stop using it.

Need help in Sharm?

Ask about Lotus pumpkin seed oil on WhatsApp or call +20 120 344 2201. Our pharmacists speak English, Russian, Ukrainian and Italian, and can read the label with you. See our hair care products and other Egyptian natural oils, or order with free hotel delivery on orders from $30.