Does Creatine Cause Hair Loss?

Reviewed by Dr Salvar Björnsson | Written by Our Editorial Team | Published 20 March 2026

If you’ve seen headlines claiming creatine causes hair loss, you’re not alone. The concern traces back to a single 2009 study on rugby players that found a spike in DHT levels. But here’s the thing: that study never measured hair loss, and no research since has confirmed the link. The evidence, frankly, is thin.

The 2009 South African Rugby Study

Almost every article about creatine and hair loss points to the same piece of research. In 2009, van der Merwe and colleagues published a study in the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine that tracked 20 college-aged rugby players over three weeks. The participants took 25g of creatine monohydrate daily for seven days (the loading phase), then 5g daily for 14 days (maintenance).

The results showed DHT levels jumped by 56% during loading and stayed 40% above baseline during maintenance. That’s a real hormonal shift. But — and this matters — the study did not measure hair loss, hair density, or follicle miniaturisation at any point. The researchers weren’t studying hair at all. They were looking at hormone ratios in athletes.

According to van der Merwe et al. (2009), the DHT:testosterone ratio increased significantly. But a single study with 20 participants and no replication is not strong evidence by any scientific standard. It’s a starting point, not a conclusion.

What DHT Actually Does to Your Hair

DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is the primary androgen responsible for miniaturising hair follicles in people with androgenetic alopecia. It binds to receptors in the hair follicle, gradually shrinking it until it can no longer produce visible hair. That process — follicle miniaturisation — is what causes the receding hairline and crown thinning pattern most men recognise.

But here’s what’s often misunderstood: DHT is not a problem for everyone. Your follicles need to be genetically sensitive to DHT for it to cause damage. Plenty of men have high DHT levels and a full head of hair. Others have relatively normal DHT levels and still experience significant thinning. The genetic component — specifically variants in the androgen receptor gene — determines whether your follicles respond to DHT by shrinking.

So even if creatine does raise DHT (and the evidence for that is limited), it won’t affect your hair unless your follicles are already vulnerable. If you’re noticing early signs of hair thinning in your 20s, genetics are almost certainly the main driver — not your supplement stack.

What Other Research Says

The van der Merwe study hasn’t been replicated. That alone should temper any strong claims. But we do have other research that paints a different picture.

According to a 2021 meta-analysis by Antonio et al., published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, a review of 12 studies found no statistically significant effect of creatine supplementation on total testosterone or free testosterone levels. While not all studies specifically measured DHT, the overall hormonal profile didn’t shift in a meaningful way.

According to the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), creatine monohydrate is one of the most extensively studied sports supplements available, with a strong safety profile across hundreds of trials. Their position stand makes no mention of hair loss as a documented side effect.

The short version: one small study found a DHT increase. A much larger body of evidence doesn’t support it. And zero studies have ever directly linked creatine supplementation to measurable hair loss.

Factors That Actually Drive Hair Loss

If you’re losing hair and also happen to take creatine, it’s natural to wonder if there’s a connection. But correlation isn’t causation, and there are far more likely explanations. Creatine is not a proven cause of hair loss. Here’s what is.

Many men who take creatine are also training intensely, cutting weight, dealing with work stress, or restricting calories. Any of these can trigger noticeable shedding. Blaming creatine is easy. The reality is usually more complicated.

Should You Stop Taking Creatine?

Probably not — at least not based on the hair loss concern alone. Creatine monohydrate has decades of safety data behind it. It improves strength, power output, and recovery. For most people, it’s one of the few supplements that genuinely works.

If you’re genetically predisposed to male pattern baldness, could elevated DHT from creatine theoretically speed things up? In principle, maybe. But we don’t have evidence it actually happens. And stopping creatine won’t reverse androgenetic alopecia — that’s driven by your genetics, not your supplement routine.

What makes more sense is addressing the known causes. If you’re noticing thinning, get a proper assessment. Women experiencing thinning hairlines face a similar challenge — the causes are usually hormonal or genetic, and identifying the right one early makes treatment far more effective.

If stopping creatine gives you peace of mind, that’s your call. But don’t expect it to solve a hair loss problem that’s almost certainly been building for years.

When to See a Hair Specialist

Here’s the honest answer: if you’re Googling “does creatine cause hair loss,” you’re probably already worried about your hair. And that’s actually a good sign — catching hair loss early gives you the most options.

You should consider seeing a specialist if you’re noticing any of these:

• A receding hairline that’s moved back over the past 6-12 months
• Visible thinning at the crown or temples
• More hair than usual on your pillow, in the shower, or on your hands after styling
• A widening part line (particularly relevant for women noticing thinning)

A hair specialist can run a proper assessment — looking at your scalp under magnification, checking for miniaturisation patterns, and reviewing your medical history. That tells you far more than any internet article about creatine ever could.