Creatine is one of the most researched sports supplements in the world, yet one worry keeps people from starting it: the fear that it causes hair loss. This page sets out exactly what the evidence shows and, just as importantly, what it does not show. No sugar-coating, no dismissal.
Does creatine cause hair loss?
No study has ever shown that creatine causes hair loss. The concern comes from a single small trial (van der Merwe et al., 2009) in which creatine was linked to a rise in DHT, a hormone connected to male-pattern baldness in people who are genetically prone to it. That result has never been repeated, and a rise in DHT is not the same as losing hair. Male-pattern baldness is primarily genetic.
DHT, or dihydrotestosterone, is an androgen hormone. In people whose hair follicles are genetically sensitive to it, DHT can gradually shrink those follicles, and that is the main driver of male-pattern hair loss (Ho, Sood and Zito, 2024). The original worry was that creatine might raise DHT and, in turn, speed up this process. But measuring a change in a hormone marker over a short study is not the same as observing hair actually fall out, and that is the leap the evidence has never made.
Does creatine make you lose hair?
There is no evidence that creatine makes you lose hair. No study has reported hair loss or baldness in people taking creatine (Antonio et al., 2021). The worry is built entirely on one study (van der Merwe et al., 2009) that recorded a change in a hormone called DHT, not on anyone reporting hair loss. If your hair is thinning, the most likely cause is genetics, age or an underlying medical issue worth discussing with your GP.
It is worth being precise here. The often-repeated claim online is that "creatine increases DHT, and DHT causes baldness, so creatine causes baldness." The first part rests on one unreplicated result. The middle part is true only for people who are genetically susceptible. And the final leap, from a hormone reading to hair actually falling out, has never been demonstrated in any study of creatine.
Can creatine cause hair loss?
In theory, some people ask whether creatine could raise DHT enough to trigger hair loss in those already prone to male-pattern baldness. The honest answer is that this has not been shown. Only one study (van der Merwe et al., 2009) has ever reported a DHT change with creatine, it has not been replicated (Antonio et al., 2021), and no research has connected creatine to hair loss itself. The possibility cannot be ruled out entirely, but the evidence does not support it.
The current evidence gives no good reason to expect hair loss from creatine, and that the single result driving the fear has not held up to being repeated. If you are genetically predisposed to male-pattern baldness, you may lose hair over time regardless of whether you take creatine, which is a separate question worth raising with your GP.
Does creatine cause baldness?
No. Creatine has not been shown to cause baldness. Male-pattern baldness, the most common form of hair loss in men, is driven mainly by genetics and by how sensitive your hair follicles are to DHT (Ho, Sood and Zito, 2024). Creatine does not change your genes. The single study (van der Merwe et al., 2009) behind the concern measured a hormone marker over a short period, not baldness, and no follow-up research has linked creatine to going bald.
If you were always going to develop male-pattern baldness, that outcome is written into your genetics and your follicles' sensitivity to DHT, not into your supplement shelf. Stopping creatine will not change that underlying predisposition, and starting it has not been shown to bring baldness forward.
What does the research actually say?
The entire concern rests on one small study in college-aged male rugby players (n=20), which loaded creatine at 25 g/day for 7 days, then 5 g/day for 14 days. DHT rose 56% after loading and stayed 40% above baseline after maintenance, and the DHT-to-testosterone ratio rose 36% then 22% (van der Merwe et al., 2009). Crucially, it did not measure or report any hair loss. Since then, no study has replicated that DHT finding (Antonio et al., 2021), and no study has shown that creatine causes hair loss. That is the full picture: one unreplicated hormone result, and no evidence of hair loss.
To keep it clear, here is what is known and what is not.
What is known:
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One small study (van der Merwe et al., 2009) reported a rise in DHT in a group of male rugby players.
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Creatine is among the most studied supplements available and is widely regarded as safe for healthy adults (Kreider et al., 2017).
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Male-pattern hair loss is primarily genetic and linked to follicle sensitivity to DHT (Ho, Sood and Zito, 2024).
What is not known or not shown:
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No study has replicated that DHT finding (Antonio et al., 2021).
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No study has reported hair loss or baldness in people taking creatine (Antonio et al., 2021).
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Whether the DHT change reported in that one study is even large enough to matter for hair is unknown.
For the wider safety picture, our guide to creatine side effects covers the other common questions, and our overview of creatine benefits explains what it is actually shown to do.
Should you stop taking creatine?
There is no evidence-based reason to stop taking creatine over hair-loss fears alone. Creatine is one of the most studied supplements available and is widely considered safe for healthy adults (Kreider et al., 2017). If you have a strong family history of hair loss and remain concerned, that is a fair reason to speak with your GP or a dermatologist, who can assess your individual risk. The decision is yours, but it should be based on evidence, not a single unreplicated study.
If you want to start, you can browse the range at Elite Supplements. If you are genuinely worried about your hair, the most useful step is not to swap one supplement for another but to see a GP, who can look at your family history and rule out other causes.
How can creatine help you?
Rest assured, there’s little to no evidence to suggest that creatine can cause hair loss, nor are there negative side effects that should cause you to stop taking creatine immediately. Instead, consider the flip side as creatine is cited to have many potential positive effects on the body.
From producing energy for short intense workouts, to supporting strength, creatine can help you achieve your body and fitness goals. There are also studies that suggest it may be beneficial to women, beyond supporting energy and strength during workouts.
References
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van der Merwe J, Brooks NE, Myburgh KH. Clin J Sport Med. 2009;19(5):399-404. PMID: 19741313.
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Ho CH, Sood T, Zito PM. Androgenetic Alopecia. StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf; updated 1 July 2024. NBK430924.
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Antonio J, et al. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2021;18:13. PMC7871530.
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Kreider RB, et al. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017;14:18. PMC5469049.
This article is general information only and is not medical advice. It does not take account of your personal health circumstances. Speak with your GP or a qualified healthcare professional before starting any supplement, particularly if you have an existing medical condition or specific concerns about hair loss.
