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.