Does Creatine Cause Hair Loss? Here’s What the Science Says

What’s one thing that many men fear (other than erectile dysfunction)? Hair loss. Thinning hair or hair loss is bound to happen as we age—in fact, about 70 percent of men will lose their hair as they age, and 25 percent of bald men notice the first signs of hair loss before age 21 (1). There’s many reasons to end up with a shiny dome, but one potential risk factor has gained more attention over the years: creatine. 

Some people believe their hair loss is accelerated or caused by consuming creatine, an amino acid. We spoke to a board-certified dermatologist and reviewed the research to separate fact from fiction 

What Is Creatine?

Before discussing the link (or lack thereof) between creatine and alopecia, you probably need to know what it is.

“Creatine is a substance that stems from meat and fish and comes from the liver, kidneys, and pancreas,” says Hamdan Abdullah Hamed MBChB, a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of PowerYourCurls.com. “It is converted into creatine phosphate or phosphocreatine and stored in the muscles, where it is used for energy.”

Amino acids are molecules that come together to form proteins. Both amino acids and proteins are considered the “building blocks of life,” which should let you know their importance (2).

Hamed notes that creatine is responsible for supplying energy throughout your body, which can be beneficial when exercising or just improving your overall health in general. 

Unsurprisingly, many gym bros love this stuff, so they use it as a dietary supplement to boost their performance. 

“For some people, they take creatine in the form of supplements to increase strength, improve performance, and help keep the minds sharp,” Hamed adds (3). Creatine supplements seem fairly safe to use, but more research is necessary to understand their long-term effects.

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Why Take Creatine?

“[Creatine] helps athletes tolerate more intense activity and reduce dehydration and cramping, minimize muscle tightness, including muscle strains and pulls,” Hamed adds. According to Hamed, taking creatine may also help:

• Improve exercise performance
• Help in recovery after high-intensity exercise
• Increase muscle mass
• Prevent or reduce severe muscle injuries

Creatine supplements may also appeal to vegetarians too. “Vegetarians may also take creatine supplements to promote muscles because creatine supplements are not sourced from animal-based ingredients,” he says.

Like anything you consume, some risks are associated with taking creatine supplements. The most common side effects include: (4)

• Muscle cramps
• Diarrhea
• Dehydration
• Nausea
• Seizures 

Can Creatine Cause Hair Loss?

Hamed simply states that creatine and hair loss is a “huge myth.” A handful of studies have dug into the issue, primarily looking into the supplement’s effects on DHT.

DHT or dihydrotestosterone is a hormone and androgen responsible for stimulating the development of male sexual characteristics, including facial, body, and pubic hair and prostate growth (5).  For some men, high levels of DHT can lead to male pattern baldness by shrinking the hair follicles and shortening the length of the hair growth cycle.

One study looked at how creatine affected DHT and testosterone levels in rugby players (6). Ater taking creatine for seven days, the creatine-taking athletes had a 56% increase in DHT levels. The levels were still 40 percent higher three weeks later.

But nearly a dozen other studies looking into creatine and DHT revealed no changes (7).

Still, if you’re worried that creatine is causing hair loss, Hamed recommends you immediately stop taking the supplement and talk to a dermatologist. Depending on the root cause, they may recommend treatments to increase hair growth, including:

• Topical minoxidil
• Finasteride
• Hair transplant
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)