supplements · 1 min read
Does creatine cause hair loss? The claim traced to one study
Does creatine cause hair loss? The claim traces to one 2009 study in 20 rugby players that measured a rise in DHT. No trial since has measured hair loss as an outcome, and none has replicated it.
Written by Lifebar Desk · Checked against the sources listed below
Published 18 Aug 2026
Key takeaways
- The claim traces to one 2009 trial in 20 college rugby players that measured DHT, not hair.
- DHT rose within the normal reference range after a loading protocol; the finding has not been replicated.
- Subsequent reviews find no evidence that creatine causes hair loss.
This is a rare case where an internet health claim has a single traceable origin.
The study
In 2009, researchers gave 20 college-aged rugby players a creatine loading protocol followed by maintenance dosing. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) rose by about 56% after loading and remained roughly 40% above baseline during maintenance. Both readings stayed within the normal clinical reference range.
DHT is implicated in androgenetic alopecia. From that link, the internet completed a syllogism the study never tested.
What the study did not do
- It did not measure hair density, shedding or recession
- It did not follow participants long enough for hair changes to appear
- It has not been replicated, despite creatine being among the most-studied supplements available
The state of the evidence
A 2021 review addressing common creatine misconceptions concluded there is no evidence that creatine supplementation causes hair loss. Multiple subsequent trials measuring hormone panels have not reproduced the DHT rise.
The honest summary
One small study found a hormonal change that could theoretically matter, in a population that was not followed for the outcome in question. That is weak evidence for a causal claim, and it is the whole of the case.
If you are already predisposed to male pattern baldness, that risk is genetic and present regardless. Treatments that actually target DHT exist and work; avoiding creatine is not one of them.
Frequently asked
Should I avoid creatine if male pattern baldness runs in my family?
The evidence does not support avoidance. If you are concerned, the genetic risk exists with or without creatine, and a dermatologist can discuss actual DHT-targeting treatments.
Has anyone tested hair directly?
No randomised trial has used hair density or loss as an outcome measure, which is precisely why the claim survives on inference.
Sources
Educational content, talk to your clinician before changing treatment.
