People Have Long Believed Creatine Causes Hair Loss. Here’s What a 12-Week Trial Actually Found
Creatine remains one of the most popular fitness supplements on the market, but a long-standing rumor links it to hair loss. Here is what current research actually shows about creatine and pattern baldness.
Does Creatine Cause Hair Loss?
Current research does not support the claim that creatine causes hair loss. A 2025 randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition found no significant difference in hair growth, DHT levels or testosterone ratios between men taking creatine and those taking a placebo.
The study followed 45 resistance-trained men ages 18 to 40 for 12 weeks. Participants received either 5 grams of creatine monohydrate daily or a 5-gram maltodextrin placebo, while maintaining their usual diets and training routines. Researchers measured hormone levels through blood tests and assessed hair follicle health using the Trichogram test and the FotoFinder system.
According to the findings, “This study was the first to directly assess hair follicle health following creatine supplementation, providing strong evidence against the claim that creatine contributes to hair loss.”
Where Did the Creatine Hair Loss Rumor Come From?
The connection traces back to a 2009 study in the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine that followed rugby players taking creatine for three weeks. Researchers found a rise in the ratio of dihydrotestosterone to testosterone, and because DHT is linked to androgenetic (pattern) hair loss, the supplement became associated with balding.
But the study never measured hair loss directly, and none of the rugby players reported losing hair. The researchers wrote, “Creatine supplementation may, in part, act through an increased rate of conversion of T to DHT. Further investigation is warranted as a result of the high frequency of individuals using creatine supplementation and the long-term safety of alterations in circulating androgen composition.” That call for further investigation became the foundation of more than a decade of online speculation, even though no follow-up study confirmed a direct hair loss link.
What Did the 2025 Creatine Study Find About Hormones?
The 2025 trial found no group-by-time interactions for any hormone or hair-related outcome, meaning creatine did not change DHT levels, the DHT-to-testosterone ratio or hair growth parameters compared with the placebo group. Total testosterone rose and free testosterone dropped slightly in both groups over 12 weeks, but those shifts happened regardless of whether participants took creatine.
Thirty-eight of the original 45 participants completed the trial. Researchers used repeated measures ANOVA and ran a sensitivity analysis to check for outliers. As exercise physiologist Jose Antonio of Nova Southeastern University told Men’s Health, “No other food or dietary supplement has as much supportive data.” Registered dietitian Kate Patton of Cleveland Clinic put it plainly when she said, “But no conclusive evidence suggests that creatine increases testosterone or causes hair loss.”
Is Creatine Safe to Take and What Should You Know First?
Creatine is widely considered safe for most healthy adults, but experts recommend talking to a doctor first if you have concerns about your hormones or any underlying health conditions. Patton advises, “If you’re concerned about your testosterone, talk to your primary care doctor or an endocrinologist before using creatine.”
Dr. Jason Mitchell, executive vice president and chief medical officer at Geisinger, addressed safety on the American Medical Association’s “Health vs. Hype” podcast. “It’s pretty safe,” he said. “I can tell that to my patients who are 20, and I can tell that to my patients who are 80.” He also told listeners, “When you take creatine monohydrate in conjunction with strength training, you actually do build additional strength and do build additional muscle mass.”
Nutrition counselor Carolyn Brown of Indigo Wellness Group told Men’s Health that most people gain between two and four pounds of water weight in the first week. She recommends sticking with the basic form, saying, “A lot of other supplements out there will have a lot of junk that you don’t need, and they’ll be much more expensive.”
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
