From pumpkin spice lattes to Halloween decorations, when fall hits, it is pumpkin season-mania. With approximately 65,900 acres of pumpkins harvested in the United States last year alone, and most pumpkin patches closing up after Halloween, what are you to do with all the leftover pumpkins you used as decorations for your spooky festivities? 

As a Harvard-trained physician with a 10+ year background in the Dermatology and Pathology fields who’s been featured on NBC, Elle and many other media outlets, Dr. Gretchen Frieling suggests that instead of throwing out the pumpkins you used for decorative functions, you can reuse them for various beauty and health purposes. “Pumpkin is a great way to incorporate more vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E as well as essential fatty acids that help reduce markers of aging while also moisturizing the skin.”

So how can you incorporate your leftover pumpkin into your daily regimen? Dr. Frieling suggests mashing it up into a face mask to moisturize, using it as an ingredient in an exfoliant mixture with brown sugar and honey, or using some of it in your meal prep to garner some of the benefits of pumpkin from the inside out. She also shared four reasons why you should incorporate your Halloween pumpkin leftovers into your wellness routine. 

Addresses Age marks: Wrinkles and brown spots

Pumpkin contains Vitamin A derivatives that aid in reducing the depth of fine lines over extended periods. Excessive sun exposure may accelerate spots of hyperpigmentation and the degradation of the skin’s firmness. Pumpkin can add an extra nudge to your beauty routine to address this.  

Alleviates Acne and helps with Oily Skin

Pumpkin contains a healthy portion of zinc in its seeds. Zinc can help alleviate acne in some people. While not nearly as powerful as a prescription acne treatment, adding pumpkin seeds to your daily routine as a snack can help give you extra zinc, iron, magnesium, fiber, and even protein. It will also work to regulate oil production in the skin, helping to prevent the build-up of excess oil in the pores.  

Uneven skin tones and smoother texture

Many patients experience problems with their skin texture and uneven skin tones. Today, a variety of beauty products use pumpkin as an additive to aid in smoothing out skin tones and textures. Pumpkin can get the job done because it contains alpha-hydroxy acids, which are naturally found in food and which is often used to improve dry, wrinkled, or acne-prone skin. What AHAs do to the skin is clear out the outermost layer of dead skin cells and thickening the deeper layers to create the appearance of tighter skin. 

Anti-Inflammatory

Nutrients and minerals such as zinc, vitamin A, and vitamin E also reduce inflammation. These are found in a variety of fruits, vegetables, and grains. Some examples include carrots, pumpkin, squash, beans, spinach, kale, sunflower seeds, broccoli, blueberries, and brown rice. Vitamin C in pumpkin helps reduce inflammation, puffiness, and redness in the skin while also calming the epidermis. Vitamin C is also popular for its collagen-boosting effect.

About the Expert:

Dr. Gretchen Frieling (“Dr. G”), MD is a Harvard-trained, board-certified Dermatopathologist, with over 10 years of experience in Medicine and Dermatopathology. She has been featured across all media channels including online, print, and broadcast. Some of her highlights include US News &World Report, NBC News, Elle, Healthline and ABC News.

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