Have you experienced hair loss assoc with creatine supplementation?

Posted by tillymack @tillymack, Sep 20 10:58am

Please let me know if you have experienced hair loss after beginning creatine supplementation. I recently started a discussion on the topic of creatine supplementation in supporting muscle mass and avoiding sarcopenia and frailty. I'd like to expand that topic to include any benefits as well as unwanted side effects from creatine supplements. I'm especially interested in supporting muscle growth and avoiding hair loss but others may want to hear about any experiences pro and con. Thanks 🙂

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kjoed53 | @kjoed53 | Sep 21 7:08am

Per Claude AI app...
The concern comes from a single small 2009 study of college rugby players, where creatine supplementation raised DHT (a hormone linked to male pattern baldness) by about 40-56%. The study didn't measure hair loss itself, and it hasn't been replicated in a way that shows creatine actually causes thinning.
Since then, no controlled study has shown that creatine causes hair loss. Major reviews, including from the International Society of Sports Nutrition, don't list it as a known side effect.
The DHT link is theoretically plausible, though. If you're genetically prone to male or female pattern hair loss, creatine could in principle speed it up, but that's unproven. If you notice increased shedding after starting it, it's reasonable to stop for a few months and see if things change, or talk to a doctor or dermatologist.
Other common causes of shedding, like stress, crash dieting, low iron, or thyroid issues, are far more likely culprits, especially if the timing coincides with a new training or diet regimen

sharonba | @sharonba | Sep 21 7:10am

The study that gave rise to rumors of creatine possibly causing hair loss was from 2009. There also was no direct link found in that small study and the results have not been reproduced. Generally research studies that are over 5 years old are not considered current and should be looked at with skepticism. Pub Med published a study on creatine supplements in September 2025, which found no direct link between creatine use and hair loss. Recommend discuss creatine use concerns with your providers as they would have knowledge of current studies and if creatine should be avoided ie., kidney and liver disease, and some other conditions.