Does Creatine Cause Hair Loss? What the Studies Show
The Dose AnalysisDoes creatine cause hair loss? The studies so far do not show that it does. The worry comes from a small 2009 study in which blood levels of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) rose after a week of high-dose creatine. That study did not look at hair. A 2025 randomized trial that did measure hair found no difference between creatine and a placebo after 12 weeks. The evidence is still thin: one hair trial, in men only, for 12 weeks.
Key takeaways
- A 2009 study in 20 male college rugby players found that blood DHT rose after 7 days of creatine loading at 25 grams a day. It did not measure hair.
- A 2025 randomized trial gave 5 grams of creatine monohydrate or a placebo a day for 12 weeks. It found no difference in DHT in the 38 resistance-trained men who finished, or in any hair measure in the 37 who had a final hair check.
- The hair evidence is one 12-week trial in men, with no data on family history, and three of its authors disclosed ties to supplement companies, including Creapure, a creatine brand.
Where the creatine and hair loss idea came from
DHT is a hormone the body makes from testosterone. MedlinePlus Genetics, from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, says androgenetic alopecia, a common form of hair loss in both men and women (male pattern baldness or female pattern hair loss), is related, particularly in men, to androgens, specifically DHT. In women, it says androgens play a role, but other factors that are not yet known are also involved. It adds that many genetic and environmental factors likely play a role, and that having a close relative with patterned hair loss appears to be a risk factor.
In 2009, the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine published a study of 20 college-aged male rugby players in South Africa. It was double-blind and placebo-controlled, with a crossover design. The players took 25 grams of creatine with 25 grams of glucose a day for 7 days, then 5 grams of creatine with 25 grams of glucose a day for 14 more days. The placebo was glucose alone.
Testosterone did not change. DHT rose by 56% after the 7-day loading phase and stayed 40% above the starting level after the 14-day lower-dose phase. The ratio of DHT to testosterone rose by 36%, then stayed 22% higher. The authors said further study was needed and that the long-term safety of these hormone changes could not be guaranteed. They did not measure hair, and the study has not been repeated.
What the 2025 hair trial found
In 2025, the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition published a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial built to answer the hair question. It recruited 45 resistance-trained men aged 18 to 40. Of the 39 assigned to a group, 20 took 5 grams of creatine monohydrate a day and 19 took 5 grams of maltodextrin, a carbohydrate powder, as a placebo, for 12 weeks. Thirty-eight men finished, 19 in each group. One man in the placebo group missed the final hair check, so the hair results cover 37 men.
The researchers measured total testosterone, free testosterone and DHT in the blood. Dermatologists checked hair at the crown of the head with a trichogram and a digital scalp-imaging system. They measured hair count and density, the share of hairs in the growth and resting phases, the share of thick and fine hairs, follicle groups and total hair thickness.
The trial found no difference between the creatine and placebo groups over the 12 weeks in testosterone, DHT, the DHT-to-testosterone ratio or any hair measure. The authors said this was the first study to measure hair directly after creatine, and they concluded that it gives strong evidence against the claim that creatine causes hair loss.
Who paid for it and who wrote it
The authors reported no funding for the trial. They thanked the official representative of the sports nutrition brand whose creatine was used for its support. Three authors disclosed advisory, consulting or donation ties to supplement companies. Two of them named Creapure, a creatine brand: one is a scientific advisor to it, and the other has received creatine donations from it for research. Keep that in mind as you read their conclusion.
Why the two studies may disagree
The 2025 authors point to two design differences. The 2009 study used a loading phase of 25 grams a day for a week, while the 2025 trial used 5 grams a day with no loading. The 2025 trial also lasted 12 weeks instead of 3. They add that the DHT values in the 2009 study stayed within normal ranges.
| Study | Who | Creatine amount | Length | Hair measured? | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 2009 | 20 male college rugby players | 25 g a day for 7 days, then 5 g a day for 14 days | 3 weeks | No | DHT up 56% after loading, 40% above the start at the end |
| Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2025 | 38 resistance-trained men finished (37 with a final hair check) | 5 g a day | 12 weeks | Yes | No difference from placebo in DHT or hair |
What the research cannot tell you yet
The 2025 authors list their own limits:
- Only men took part, so the results may not apply to women.
- The trial lasted 12 weeks. The authors say a longer study at a higher dose could give a different result.
- They did not ask about family history of hair loss.
- They measured hormones in the blood, not in the scalp.
The trial also left out men with hair-loss conditions, men who had used hair-loss medicines such as finasteride or minoxidil, and men with thyroid disorders. So it cannot say what creatine does for people already losing hair. If hair loss runs in your family, or you have noticed thinning, a healthcare professional can help you weigh this evidence.
Reading a creatine label against these studies
A label tells you the amount per serving, which you can compare with the study amounts. Creatine+ is an example. Its Supplement Facts list 5 grams of creatine monohydrate per 5-gram serving and 60 servings per container, and the front panel gives the net weight as 300 grams. Its directions read: "Mix one scoop (5g) with juice or a carbohydrate drink." One scoop matches the daily amount in the 2025 trial and is one fifth of the 2009 loading amount. Neither study tested this product.
Its label warning reads: "Consult with a physician prior to use if you have any medical conditions. Do not use if pregnant or lactating." The label also says: "Keep out of reach of children. Do not use if safety seal is damaged or missing. Store in a cool, dry place."
If you are trying to conceive, ask your healthcare provider before use. If you are pregnant or nursing, the label says not to use it.
Frequently asked questions about creatine and hair loss
Does creatine raise DHT?
One 2009 study of 20 male rugby players found that DHT rose 56% after a week of creatine loading at 25 grams a day. A 2025 randomized trial of 5 grams a day for 12 weeks found no difference from placebo in DHT. The 2009 result has not been repeated.
Has any study measured hair directly?
Yes, one. A 2025 randomized trial in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition measured hair count and density, growth phases, the share of thick and fine hairs, follicle groups and hair thickness in 37 of the 38 resistance-trained men who finished (one missed the final hair check). It found no difference between creatine and placebo after 12 weeks.
Does a loading phase make a difference?
No study has compared loading and no loading for hair. The DHT rise in the 2009 study followed a 25-gram-a-day loading week. The 2025 trial used 5 grams a day with no loading, and its authors name that as one possible reason the results differ.
What if hair loss runs in my family?
MedlinePlus Genetics says having a close relative with patterned hair loss appears to be a risk factor for it. The 2025 creatine trial did not record family history, so it cannot answer this question. Talk with a healthcare professional about your own situation.
Do these results apply to women?
The two studies described here enrolled only men. The 2025 authors say future research may be needed in women, so there is no trial evidence on creatine and hair in women yet.
Related reading
- Creatine+
- How Long Does Creatine Monohydrate Take to Work?
- Optional next step: our supplement audit can help you organize your goals; it does not diagnose anything.
Sources
- Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition: Does creatine cause hair loss? A 12-week randomized controlled trial, 2025.
- Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine: Three weeks of creatine monohydrate supplementation affects dihydrotestosterone to testosterone ratio in college-aged rugby players (PubMed 19741313), 2009.
- U.S. National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus Genetics: Androgenetic alopecia, updated 2023.
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