Benefits of Pumpkin Seed Oil
It’s that season again and we're sure some of you are either excited about the sight and scent of pumpkin everything or just plain over it. But wait! Pumpkins aren't just for lattes, jack-o-lanterns, and nicknames. Did you know that pumpkin seed oil has some interesting benefits for hair and skin? Let’s talk about it.
First, what is Pumpkin seed oil?
Pumpkin seed oil, also known as pepita oil, is produced through the extraction of pumpkin seeds.
Skin Benefits
Pumpkin seed oil has been scientifically proven to treat acne. Yup, acne. How is this? Pumpkin seed oil contains Linoleic acid, which is an omega-6 fatty acid, also known as vitamin K, that is naturally found in sebum. According to Shape.com, when the skin lacks linoleic acid production it can lead to breakouts or dry skin.
"If the balance [or amount of linoleic acid in your skin] is not right, your body may overproduce sebum, and you may have oily skin. Linoleic is an essential fatty acid that sebaceous glands use for normal sebum production [and] actually calms the skin and follicle, and therefore [can] calm acne."
- Dr. Ramachandra. Shape.com
Linoleic acid also aids in the skin's youthfulness as it adds softness, elasticity, and firmness to the skin. Pumpkin seed oil also contains vitamin E, an antioxidant that acts as a protective barrier on the skin helping to block environmental stressors by reducing free radicals.
Hair Benefits
The benefits pumpkin seed oil has on the hair (and scalp) aren't spoken about enough. Pumpkin seed oil is great for keeping the hair hydrated, adding extra moisture to the strands helping them become more elastic, and also nourishes the hair follicles (when used directly on the scalp) which promotes thickness. It can also be used as or included in, a hot oil treatment to help restore dry hair.
One of the unique characteristics of pumpkin seed oil is that it has high amounts of zinc which is an antifungal that helps fight against bacteria and dandruff on the scalp. These anti-inflammatory properties also help reduce free radical damage and irritation on the scalp.
Check out our THICK butter hair butter made with pumpkin seed oil today!