Is Creatine Causing Your Hair Loss? Here Are the Facts

People often take a creatine supplement to improve their athletic performance and increase their muscle mass. And some are using it to improve their cognitive abilities.

But you may be avoiding creatine because you've heard it can lead to hair loss, especially in men who are prone to male pattern baldness.

But, is that really something you should worry about? Keep reading to find out.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• What are other causes of hair loss? Beinglow in certain vitamins or mineralsmay cause hair thinning.
• Can you treat hair loss?Yes! Here's an in-depth look attreatments that restore hair growth.
• How much can creatine improve athletic performance? Read about theexperiences of three athleteswho tried creatine.

What does creatine do in the body?

Creatineis a chemical that's found naturally in the body. It plays an important role increating energy for muscles. That mayhelp build muscle mass. It can be especially helpful for people who participate in high-intensity sports.

Athletes and other people who work out sometimes takecreatinesupplements to improve performance, helpbuild muscle mass, and speed up recovery after a workout.

Does creatine cause hair loss?

There's no evidence showing that creatine is linked to hair loss. People became worried about the connection because of astudy published in 2009. It found that athletes who took high doses of creatine had higher levels of a male sex hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

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DHT can cause hair follicles to shrink, and natural changes in DHT levels have been linked to hair loss. There was also concern thatcreatine raised testosterone levels. DHT is produced from what's called free testosterone, so people worried that higher testosterone would raise DHT levels even more.

But no other studies have found that people taking creatine supplements have a higher rate of hair loss.

And several studies have looked at whether taking creatine raises levels of DHT or free testosterone. Themajority have foundthat people taking creatine supplements don't have elevated levels of either of these hormones.

Together, the research doesn't show that taking creatine is linked to an increased risk of hair loss, or even an increase in hormones that could cause hair loss.

What are the side effects of creatine?

The main potential side effect of taking creatine isweight gain. This is because creatine increases muscle mass as well as water retention. Both of these effects can cause you to gain weight. But the extra weight isin the form of fat.

Some people have reported side effects like:

• Muscle cramping
• Diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms
• Feeling overheated in hot environments

Is it safe to take creatine every day?

Taking daily creatineis considered safeover the long term. There's no recommended "dose" for creatine. Some people trying to build muscle mass may take a high dosage of 10 g to 20 g for 7 days and then switch to a lower maintenance dosage of3 g to 5 g daily.

Who should not use creatine?

While creatine is safe for most people, there are some peoplewho should avoidtaking it. These include people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. There's limited research on the safety of taking creatine in pregnant or breastfeeding people.

Creatine may make symptoms worse for people with:

• Bipolar disease
• Kidney disease
• Parkinson's disease

Most experts don't recommend that those younger than 19 years take creatine. Its safety in childrenhas not been well researched.

When to get help for hair loss

No matter the cause, unexpected hair loss can be upsetting. If you notice that your hair is falling out suddenly,talk with your dermatologist. Hair loss may be caused by an issue with your immune system or could be triggered by childbirth, illness, or high levels of stress.

Your dermatologist can help diagnose the cause and go over possible treatments with you to help your hair grow back.

If you're experiencingmale pattern baldness, a common occurrence, there are many over-the-counter and prescription treatments to help prevent hair loss and help hair grow back.

Frequently asked questions

Does creatine cause weight gain?expand_more Yes, creatine can cause weight gain. It increases muscle mass and can lead to water retention. Both of these can increase your weight.

Does creatine cause hair loss in females?expand_more

Does creatine really make a difference?expand_more

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" data-qa="ContentCalloutH2Title" The bottom line

Creatine doesn't cause hair loss. It doesn't significantly increase the male sex hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Most people can safely take creatine daily without any negative symptoms.

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