“Does creatine cause hair loss”

The concern that creatine supplementation might cause hair loss originated from a 2009 study involving 20 college-aged male rugby players. This study observed that after three weeks of creatine loading and maintenance, levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) - a hormone linked to male pattern baldness - increased by up to 56 per cent, and the ratio of DHT to testosterone also rose. However, this research did not measure actual hair loss, only hormone levels, and called for further investigation into the long-term safety of these hormonal changes.

More recent and direct evidence, including a 12-week randomised controlled trial published in 2025, has specifically investigated this claim. This study, involving 38 resistance-trained young men, found no significant differences in DHT levels, the DHT-to-testosterone ratio, or any measures of hair follicle health - such as hair density or thickness - between participants taking 5 grams of creatine daily and those taking a placebo.

Leading scientific reviews on creatine supplementation also address this as a common misconception. The current body of evidence suggests that creatine, when taken at recommended dosages, does not cause hair loss or adversely affect hair health. The initial hypothesis about DHT increases has not translated into evidence of actual hair loss in studies designed to measure it.