Does Creatine Cause Hair Loss? What the Evidence Actually Says
Last reviewed on 31 July 2026. We review our treatment guides every six months to keep them accurate.
Does creatine cause hair loss? On the current evidence, no. There is no good evidence that creatine supplements cause hair loss or balding. The worry comes almost entirely from a single small study in 2009 that found creatine raised a hormone called DHT, but that study never measured hair at all, and its result has not been repeated. A newer trial that looked directly at hair found no effect. Below we explain where the fear came from, what the science actually shows, whether you should stop taking it, and how this applies to both men and women.
What is creatine, and what are its pros and cons?
Creatine is a substance your body makes naturally and stores mostly in your muscles as phosphocreatine. Your liver, kidneys and pancreas produce it, and you also get it from foods such as red meat and fish. It helps supply quick energy during short, high-intensity efforts like weightlifting or sprinting, which is why many people take creatine monohydrate as a supplement.
On the pros side, creatine is one of the most researched supplements in the world. It is widely used to support muscle strength, training performance and recovery, and it is considered very safe for healthy people at standard doses of around 3 to 5 grams a day. Some users begin with a short "loading phase" of higher doses to saturate the muscles, then move to a lower daily dose.
On the cons side, the most talked-about worry is whether creatine can cause hair loss, because of its possible effect on a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). That single question is what this guide sets out to answer honestly.
DHT and hair loss: the science
Hair loss, known medically as alopecia, has many causes, including genetics, hormones, stress and nutrition. The most common form, male and female pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia), is closely linked to DHT. According to DermNet, pattern hair loss is driven by a genetically inherited sensitivity to DHT, which gradually shortens the growth phase of the hair cycle and causes follicles to shrink. DHT is made from testosterone by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. You can read more in our guide to DHT and hair loss.
Where the creatine worry came from
Almost the entire idea that creatine causes baldness rests on one small study from 2009. In that double-blind trial of 20 college-aged rugby players, creatine loading raised serum DHT by about 56% after a week, and it stayed roughly 40% above baseline during maintenance, while the DHT-to-testosterone ratio also rose. That can sound alarming, but three things matter. The study measured only a hormone in the blood, it never measured or reported any hair loss, and the DHT levels stayed within the normal healthy range. Total testosterone did not change.
What newer and wider evidence shows
The 2009 result has not been repeated. A 2021 review by the International Society of Sports Nutrition looked at the wider body of research and concluded that the evidence does not show creatine raises testosterone, free testosterone or DHT, and that no study has reported hair loss or baldness in people taking it. In 2025, researchers ran the first trial to look directly at hair: a 12-week randomised controlled trial in resistance-trained men found no difference between creatine and a placebo in DHT, testosterone, or any hair measure such as hair count, density or thickness. The authors described this as strong evidence against the claim that creatine causes hair loss.
So, does creatine cause hair loss?
The honest answer is that there is no good evidence that creatine causes hair loss or balding. Because DHT does drive pattern baldness in people who are genetically prone to it, the original concern was biologically reasonable, but it remains unproven, and the most direct study we have found no effect. Creatine has not been shown to make anyone bald.
Should you stop taking creatine?
For most people there is no evidence-based reason to stop creatine over hair-loss fears. If you are noticing thinning and want to be sure, you could pause creatine for a few months and watch what happens, but pattern hair loss usually continues regardless of creatine because it is driven by genetics and DHT sensitivity. The only people who might reasonably weigh it up are those with a strong family history of early pattern baldness, and even then this is a personal risk-and-benefit judgement rather than a medical instruction. If in doubt, speak to your GP or a dermatologist.
Can hair loss from creatine grow back?
Because creatine has not been shown to cause hair loss, there is no established creatine hair loss to reverse. If someone did shed hair around the time they started a supplement, it is often down to a separate, temporary cause such as telogen effluvium, where stress or a change in the body pushes hairs into the resting phase. That type of shedding typically grows back on its own. True pattern baldness, by contrast, is gradual and tends to progress slowly over time.
Does this apply to women too?
The main studies on creatine and DHT were done in men, so the direct evidence in women is even thinner. Women can develop female pattern hair loss, which is also linked to genetics and androgens, but there is no evidence that creatine causes hair loss in women. Anyone concerned should see a GP, as female hair loss can have several treatable causes. The NHS advises that women should not use finasteride.
Other side effects of creatine
Aside from the hair-loss myth, creatine is considered one of the best-studied and safest supplements. The more common, mild effects some people notice include:
Water retention, which can cause slight bloating or short-term weight gain as creatine draws water into muscle cells.
Digestive upset, such as stomach discomfort or cramps, which is more likely with high doses.
Kidney caution: creatine is generally safe for healthy kidneys, but speak to your GP first if you have a kidney condition.
Sticking to the recommended dose and drinking enough water helps keep these to a minimum.
Other causes of hair loss to consider
If your hair is thinning, creatine is an unlikely culprit. The NHS notes that it is normal to lose 50 to 100 hairs a day, and that hair loss can be caused by:
Genetics, the biggest factor in male and female pattern baldness.
Stress or illness, which can trigger temporary shedding.
Nutritional gaps, such as low iron.
The NHS suggests seeing a GP to find out what is behind your hair loss before spending money on treatments or a commercial clinic.
The bottom line
There is no good evidence that creatine causes hair loss. The scare traces back to one small 2009 study that measured a hormone, not hair, and has never been repeated, while newer research that looked directly at hair found no effect. If you are worried about thinning hair, the most useful step is to speak to your GP or a dermatologist, who can look at the many factors involved.
Frequently asked questions
Does creatine cause hair loss in everyone?
No. There is no good evidence that creatine causes hair loss in anyone. The concern came from a single study showing a rise in the hormone DHT, but it did not measure hair, and later research found no effect on hair.
Can creatine make you bald?
Creatine has not been shown to make anyone bald. Baldness (androgenetic alopecia) is driven mainly by genetics and DHT sensitivity, and the most direct study of creatine and hair found no difference from a placebo.
Is hair loss from creatine reversible?
There is no proven creatine hair loss to reverse. Temporary shedding from other causes, such as telogen effluvium, usually grows back, whereas genetic pattern hair loss tends to progress slowly over time.
Should I take creatine if hair loss runs in my family?
This is a personal choice rather than a medical rule. The evidence does not link creatine to hair loss, but if you have a strong family history of early pattern baldness and feel unsure, you could discuss it with your GP or a dermatologist.
Are there alternatives to creatine for building muscle?
Yes. Other supplements such as whey protein can support muscle growth. That said, creatine is one of the most researched and safest options, and it has not been shown to affect hair.
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