Fitness & Hair

Does Creatine Cause Hair Loss? The Single Study That Started the Panic

🔬 Myth Busting⏱️ 10 min read🗓️ December 2025

If you've spent any time in fitness forums or subreddits, you've encountered the warning: "Creatine causes hair loss." It's stated as fact, passed around as common knowledge, and causes countless guys to abandon one of the most effective legal supplements available.

But here's what you need to know: the entire narrative comes from a single study, conducted in 2009, that has never been replicated. Let's break down what the research actually shows.

The Study That Started It All

In 2009, researchers van der Merwe et al. published a study on college-aged South African rugby players taking creatine. The study wasn't even designed to measure hair loss—it was measuring various hormonal responses to creatine supplementation.

The protocol:

The Finding

56% increase in DHT levels after the loading phase

During maintenance, DHT levels remained elevated at about 40% above baseline. Since DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is the hormone responsible for androgenetic alopecia, the logical leap was made: creatine → more DHT → more hair loss.

Why This Study Doesn't Prove Creatine Causes Hair Loss

1. No Replication

This is the critical point. In science, a finding isn't established until it's replicated by independent researchers. In the 15+ years since this study, no other study has successfully replicated the DHT increase finding.

A 2024 systematic review examined 12 studies on creatine supplementation and found that creatine did not significantly alter testosterone or DHT ratios in other cohorts.

"One unreplicated study with ~20 subjects should not dictate your supplement decisions. That's not how science works."

2. The Absolute Values Stayed Normal

Here's something rarely mentioned: even with the 56% increase, the absolute DHT values remained within normal clinical ranges. A percentage increase sounds scary, but context matters. Going from "low normal" to "mid normal" is very different from going from "normal" to "pathologically elevated."

3. No Hair Loss Was Measured

The study measured hormone levels, not hair. It didn't follow subjects long-term to see if they actually experienced increased hair loss. The connection between "elevated DHT in blood" and "hair falling out" was assumed, not demonstrated.

4. Small Sample Size

~20 rugby players is not a robust sample. Individual variation in hormone response is enormous. Without a larger sample, it's impossible to know if this result represents a genuine effect or statistical noise.

What Modern Research Shows

A 2021 randomized controlled trial specifically designed to test whether creatine supplementation affects hair found:

2021 RCT Finding

No significant difference in hair loss between creatine and placebo groups over 12 weeks. The study concluded there is no evidence supporting the claim that creatine causes hair loss.

The most comprehensive review of creatine and hormones (2024) concluded:

The Math for Men on Finasteride

Here's where it gets even less worrying. If you're already taking finasteride for hair loss:

Factor Effect on DHT
Finasteride (1mg daily) Reduces DHT by ~70%
Theoretical creatine effect Increases DHT by ~50% (if real)
Net effect on finasteride Still ~55% reduction in DHT

Even if the creatine-DHT connection were real (which isn't supported by subsequent research), finasteride's 70% reduction vastly overpowers any theoretical creatine increase.

Bottom line: If you're on finasteride and worried about creatine, the math doesn't support the concern. The finasteride "shield" easily handles any theoretical creatine "spike."

Why the Myth Persists

If the evidence is this weak, why does "creatine causes hair loss" persist as common knowledge?

1. Correlation Without Causation

Men who take creatine are often young, fitness-focused males—the exact demographic that's most likely to notice androgenetic alopecia beginning. They start creatine at 22, notice their hairline changing at 24, and blame the supplement. In reality, their genetics were always going to produce that result.

2. Confirmation Bias

Once you've heard "creatine causes hair loss," you start watching for it. Normal shedding (50-100 hairs daily) suddenly feels ominous. You pay attention to hairs in the drain in a way you never did before.

3. Fear Travels Faster Than Facts

A scary claim ("this supplement will make you bald!") spreads much faster than a nuanced scientific analysis ("one unreplicated study with methodological limitations found a temporary hormonal shift that may not translate to actual hair loss").

Should You Take Creatine?

Creatine is one of the most studied supplements in existence. Its benefits are well-documented:

The safety profile is excellent. The hair loss connection is scientifically unsupported.

Our Recommendation

If you're genetically predisposed to hair loss (family history, early signs of recession), consider the following approach:

  1. Use creatine if it benefits your fitness goals. The evidence doesn't support avoiding it for hair reasons.
  2. Address hair loss directly with proven treatments (finasteride, minoxidil) rather than avoiding unproven threats.
  3. Monitor your hair regardless of supplement use—take monthly photos to track any changes objectively.
  4. Don't let fear of one unreplicated study deprive you of a highly effective supplement.

Worried About Hair Loss?

Instead of avoiding effective supplements based on weak evidence, address the actual problem with proven treatments.

Find Your Protocol

The Verdict

Does creatine cause hair loss? Based on the totality of evidence: No.

One small, unreplicated study from 2009 found a temporary DHT increase that remained within normal ranges. Subsequent research has failed to confirm this effect, and no study has demonstrated actual hair loss from creatine supplementation.

If you're experiencing hair loss, it's almost certainly due to androgenetic alopecia (genetics), not your creatine. Address the actual cause rather than eliminating an effective supplement based on internet mythology.

References