Can Creatine Cause Hair Loss? The Evidence

The Short Answer: Can Creatine Cause Hair Loss?

No, according to current literature, creatine appears not to cause hair loss. The basis for the claim is a study conducted in 2009, which found elevated DHT levels in rugby players taking creatine. However, the study did not evaluate any aspect of the hair itself.

Further, the study was limited in its population (only 20 rugby players) and duration (only three weeks). The 2025 randomized control trial evaluated the effect of creatine on hair follicle health and found no negative effects of creatine on either DHT, testosterone, or hair.

Where the Creatine Hair Loss Concern Started

Most fears about creatine causing hair loss trace back to one study. Van der Merwe and his team published their findings about a group of 20 college-aged male rugby players from South Africa in 2009. The subjects participated in two phases. During Phase I (the “loading” phase) they consumed 25 g per day of creatine monohydrate for seven consecutive days. After those seven days, the subjects transitioned into Phase II (“maintenance”) where they continued consuming creatine monohydrate for another 14 consecutive days at a rate of 5 g per day.

The researchers found that DHT levels had increased in the subjects’ blood samples taken during the loading phase by approximately 56%. Some people connected the dots: since DHT is associated with androgenetic alopecia (male-pattern baldness), and in these subjects DHT had risen due to creatine consumption, we can conclude that creatine causes hair loss. [Source: van der Merwe et al., 2009]

But there are many problems with this line of thought.

Why the 2009 Study Does Not Prove Creatine Causes Hair Loss

There are many reasons why the van der Merwe study doesn’t prove that creatine will cause hair loss:

• The study never actually measured hair loss. While the study did measure DHT levels in the subjects’ blood, it never examined anyone’s hair, scalp or follicle health. Elevated DHT in someone’s blood does not mean that person will necessarily lose their hair. What ultimately determines whether elevated DHT will affect your hair follicles? Genetics, the number and type of receptors in your scalp, and your local DHT levels vs. what you find in your blood. All of these things play a role.

• The study was extremely small. Only twenty participants finished the study. With such a small number of participants, it is impossible to get a reliable picture of how different people might respond hormonally to creatine.

• The amount of creatine ingested during the loading phase was extremely large. The subjects were given 25 grams per day during the loading phase. It is generally recommended to consume between 3-5 grams of creatine daily and skip the loading phase entirely, as its only benefit is that it speeds up the process of saturation. Drawing conclusions about what happens at standard dosages based on data collected while using a much larger dosage is unreliable.

• The DHT values didn’t rise above normal ranges. Although the subjects had higher-than-usual DHT values post-supplementation, they still fell well within normal physiological limits. An increase within normal limits may not result in negative effects on hair status.

• The study was only three weeks long. No conclusive scientific evidence suggests hair loss occurs in less than four weeks. Male pattern baldness takes months to develop.

The 2025 Study That Directly Tested Creatine and Hair Health

For nearly fifteen years after publication of the van der Merwe study, no researcher directly evaluated whether creatine supplementation influences hair health. That changed in 2025 when a new randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. [Source: 2025 RCT]

This study was designed specifically to answer the creatine hair loss question:

• 45 male subjects with resistance training backgrounds aged 18-40 were randomly assigned to receive either five grams per day of creatine monohydrate or a placebo for 12 weeks
• Blood samples were taken before and after the 12-week period to assess changes in total testosterone, free testosterone, and DHT
• Subjects underwent trichogram testing and used the FotoFinder system to assess hair follicle health, measuring hair density, follicular unit counts, cumulative hair thickness, and ratios of growth-phase to resting-phase hairs

Both sets of measurements showed no difference between creatine supplementation and placebo treatment. Neither DHT nor testosterone levels increased in any way. Additionally, there were no statistically significant differences in either hair density, hair thickness, or in any other aspect of hair follicle health between the two groups.

What 12 Other Studies Show About Creatine and Hormones

In addition to the 2009 and 2025 studies, Antonio and colleagues conducted a systematic review of all existing literature concerning creatine and hormones in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition in 2021. This review identified twelve different studies examining how creatine supplementation affected testosterone levels. Not one of these twelve studies demonstrated that creatine significantly altered testosterone levels. [Source: Antonio et al., 2021]

Because DHT is produced through conversion of testosterone, if creatine fails to increase circulating levels of testosterone, it is highly unlikely that any significant increases in DHT will occur as well. Based on the majority of available research data, the majority of scientific evidence suggests that there are insufficient grounds to establish a causal relationship between creatine supplementation and hair loss.

The Fair Counterpoint: What We Still Don’t Know

To be thorough, both sides’ evidence have limitations. Some of the American Hair Loss Association’s comments regarding the 2025 study were valid:

• The study only lasted 12 weeks. There has been no testing regarding long-term effects of supplementation after years of use.
• The participants had not been screened for a genetic predisposition toward hair loss. If there is a high familial incidence of male pattern baldness, a person may react in a different manner.
• Blood levels of DHT were measured, not DHT levels at the site of hair growth. No assessment of DHT activity at the hair follicle was made.
• While the sample size of 45 is larger than that used in the 2009 study, the number of subjects remains relatively small.

These are legitimate criticisms. They do not discredit the findings, but they illustrate that there is not yet enough information to determine whether or how this applies to each individual in all scenarios.

Understanding DHT and Hair Loss

Understanding dihydrotestosterone (DHT) will help put some perspective to this subject. DHT is created when testosterone is converted via the enzyme 5-alpha reductase. In those with genetically susceptible androgen receptors, binding to the receptors causes gradual miniaturization of the follicles over time. Androgenetic alopecia is caused through this process.

A critical term here is “genetically susceptible.” DHT doesn’t cause hair loss in all people. It is based on sensitivity of one’s androgen receptors, which are primarily influenced by genetics. Therefore, even if creatine increased DHT slightly (which the 2025 study suggests is unlikely at standard doses), it would have relevance only to those who have the genetic tendency toward androgenetic alopecia.

If male pattern baldness runs in your family, it makes sense to monitor your hair while taking any type of supplement. But based upon the available data, creatine cannot be singled out as a contributing factor.

Practical Recommendations

Based on all available evidence:

If there is no family history of hair loss: There is no evidence from the entire body of literature that 3-5 g/day of creatine in any form (powder or gummy) represents a risk to your hair. The 2025 trial found no effect on DHT or hair health at these doses.

If hair loss runs in your family: While the evidence doesn’t indicate that creatine is a cause of hair loss, long-term trials in people who are genetically predisposed haven’t been done. If you’re worried about hair loss due to family history, you can continue to use creatine and monitor your hair for several months. If you experience any changes, consult a dermatologist. It’s much more probable that hair loss will occur because of genetics than supplements.

If you are already losing your hair: Creatine is unlikely to contribute to your hair loss. More common and well-researched factors include genetics, stress, nutritional deficiencies, medication side effects, and medical conditions. Consult a healthcare provider for proper evaluation.

For information on proper creatine dosing, see our creatine timing guide.

The Bottom Line on Creatine and Hair Loss

The creatine hair loss concern was a result of one small, short (three-week) study published in 2009 that didn’t measure hair loss. For 15 years after that, none of the subsequent studies were able to reproduce those results relative to DHT. Then in 2025, the first study ever to directly assess hair follicle health found no adverse effects from creatine supplementation.

Current collective evidence including numerous studies and systematic reviews does not support a relationship between creatine and hair loss. If you are currently taking creatine at a standard dose of 3-5 g per day, the literature indicates that your hair should not be adversely affected.