Pumpkin seed oil vs. minoxidil 5% topical foam for the treatment of female pattern hair loss: A randomized comparative trial.

BACKGROUND: Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) is an annual climber plant, and its seeds have considerable amount of oil with nutritional and medicinal importance. AIM: The present study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy of pumpkin seed oil (PSO) in the treatment of female pattern hair loss (FPHL) and compare its effects with minoxidil 5% foam. METHODS: Patients with FPHL were randomly assigned to pumpkin seed oil (n = 30; group A) or minoxidil 5% foam (n = 30; group B) for a period of 3 months. Patients were evaluated clinically and dermoscopically at baseline, at one and half months, and at the end of the 3-month study. RESULTS: Among group A (pumpkin seed oil) candidates, a significant decrease was observed in hair shaft diversity before and after treatment (30.5 ± 6.2%, 24.0 ± 4.02, P < .001, respectively) as well as in the vellus hairs (22.5 ± 4.9, 15.8 ± 2.2, P < .001, respectively). Upright regrowing hairs significantly increased from (0.13 ± 0.5) before treatment to (0.9 ± 1.0) after treatment (P < .001). In group B (minoxidil applying) candidates, a significant decrease was observed in hair shaft diversity before and after treatment (31.5 ± 6.3%, 21.3 ± 2.2, P < .001, respectively) as well as in the vellus hairs (24.7 ± 6.4, 19.5 ± 5.4, P = .02, respectively). Conclusion Findings of the present trial provide evidence of a promising potential role of PSO in treating FPHL.