Creatine and Hair Loss: The Myth, the One Study, and What Subsequent Research Shows
The creatine-causes-hair-loss concern has spread through fitness communities as received wisdom for over 15 years — based on one 2009 study that measured DHT, not hair loss. Here's the actual evidence base and what it means for people managing hair loss while training.
01The study everyone cites
A 2009 South African RCT on rugby players found DHT levels increased by about 56% after 3 weeks of creatine supplementation. The study did not measure hair loss. It did not follow subjects long enough to observe any hair changes. It was a small study in a specific athletic population measuring one hormone marker.
02What subsequent research shows
No study has replicated the DHT elevation finding. Multiple larger studies measuring androgen levels after creatine supplementation found no significant DHT change. A 2021 systematic review of creatine's effects on androgens found no consistent evidence of meaningful elevation. The 2009 result appears to be an outlier that generated a myth disproportionate to its evidence.
The bottom line: there is no direct evidence that creatine causes or accelerates hair loss. There is one poorly-replicated study showing DHT elevation. For men on finasteride — where DHT is being actively managed — the concern is further reduced. Don't sacrifice the most evidence-backed training supplement for a concern that doesn't have solid support.
Use the supplement and treat the hair