Does Creatine Actually Cause Hair Loss? We Asked an Expert to Explain the Science
Creatine is easily the most researched supplement on the planet. From its legendary status as a muscle-builder and strength-booster to its more recent brain-gain credentials for mood and cognitive support, it’s the undisputed heavyweight champ of most supplement stacks. Whether you’re chasing a PR or just trying to stay sharp, it’s basically the gold standard for performance.
But despite the mountain of data, creatine remains a lightning rod for gym-floor debate. Critics love to claim it does everything from bloating you like a parade balloon to fast-tracking your male-pattern baldness. And while we could spend all day debunking the many myths surrounding the supplement, the fear of a receding hairline is the one fear that keeps more men from taking the widely researched product than any other. To figure out if your gains come at the cost of your follicles, we tapped registered dietitian and CPT at Life Time, Samantha McKinney.
Related: The Absolute Best Foods with Creatine to Fuel Your Gains
Where the Baldness Myth Began
While it’s safe to assume most theories connecting creatine to baldness started on a random Reddit forum a decade ago, there is actually some research behind the rumors—though McKinney notes it's "a small, short-term, three-week study done 17 years ago."
That specific study was performed on college-aged athletes and showed that using creatine bumped up their DHT levels. For the uninitiated, elevated DHT binds to hair follicles, causing miniaturization (hair loss) and potential prostate issues. However, even in that study, those levels remained within normal limits. The general theory was that the extra DHT was a byproduct of an increase in testosterone.
Does Creatine Cause Hair Loss?
"Multiple studies done since then have not found the creatine-testosterone-DHT link to be true, and recent studies specifically on creatine and hair (thickness and follicle health) do not show an impact," McKinney adds.
The claims that creatine causes hair loss are largely unfounded. However, if you have a strong family history of baldness and a personal history of higher-than-optimal DHT patterns, it is worth being aware of the possible link. Even if future research proves the connection is legitimate, most experts agree the benefits far outweigh the risks for the average athlete.
"Considering it can have a positive impact on power output, exercise performance, muscle health, and likely cognition and aging, it’s worth looking at the full picture for anyone determining whether or not to use it," McKinney says.