# Does creatine cause hair loss?

Source: https://www.healthnews24.co.za/answers/does-creatine-cause-hair-loss/
Publisher: Healthnews24 (South Africa's supplement answer desk)
Updated: 2026-10-27

> No good evidence shows creatine causes hair loss. The worry comes from one 2009 study of South African college rugby players, which found higher DHT (a hormone linked to male-pattern baldness) but never measured hair. A 2025 randomised trial of resistance-trained men taking 5 g a day for 12 weeks found no change in DHT or hair outcomes.

Key facts:
- The hair-loss claim traces to a 2009 study of 20 South African rugby players: DHT rose 56% after a 7-day load, but hair was never measured.
- Lak et al. 2025 RCT (5 g/day for 12 weeks): no difference from placebo in DHT, DHT:testosterone ratio or hair density.
- Creatine is not a steroid and is not on the WADA Prohibited List.
- ISSN: no compelling evidence of harm in healthy people at up to 30 g/day for up to 5 years.

## Where does the creatine hair-loss claim come from?

From one small study. In 2009, van der Merwe and colleagues, publishing in the *Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine*, gave 20 South African college rugby players creatine: a 7-day load followed by 5 g a day. Their dihydrotestosterone (DHT) rose 56% after the loading week and stayed about 40% above baseline after 14 days of maintenance. DHT is the androgen involved in male-pattern hair loss in genetically susceptible people.

The study did not measure hair, hair density or hair loss, and its DHT finding has not been replicated since.

## What does newer research show?

Lak and colleagues (2025) ran a 12-week randomised controlled trial in resistance-trained men taking 5 g of creatine a day. Compared with placebo there were no differences in DHT, the DHT-to-testosterone ratio, hair density or the anagen-to-telogen ratio (the proportion of hairs growing versus resting). That is a direct test of the hair question, using hair outcomes, and it found nothing.

## What is the fair conclusion?

Evidence level: **weak and inconclusive for harm; reassuring on balance.** There is a theoretical pathway (a DHT change) from one small study, and a better-designed trial that found no hair effect. That is not proof of absence for every person, but there is no solid basis to say creatine causes hair loss. Sports-nutrition reviews of creatine myths, including the ISSN position stand, treat the claim as unproven.

## Should you avoid creatine if baldness runs in your family?

You do not need to. Male-pattern hair loss is mostly genetic and age-related, and it often becomes visible in the same age range that people start gym supplements, which makes the two easy to confuse. If you notice faster thinning after starting any supplement:

- Stop for a month and see whether anything changes.
- Check for other causes: low iron or ferritin, thyroid problems, crash dieting, stress, or other supplements (some "testosterone" or "prohormone" products are the real concern).
- See a GP or dermatologist for diagnosis rather than guessing.

## Is creatine a banned or hormonal substance?

No. Creatine is an amino-acid-derived compound found in meat and fish and made by your body. It is not a steroid or hormone and it is not on the WADA Prohibited List. For drug-tested athletes the real hazard is contamination, so choose a batch-tested product; see [what third-party tested means](/answers/what-does-third-party-tested-mean/).

## What dose is safe to use?

The ISSN maintenance dose is 3-5 g a day, with no evidence of harm in healthy people up to 30 g a day for up to five years. See [how much creatine per day](/answers/how-much-creatine-per-day/) and the [best creatine in South Africa](/best/best-creatine-south-africa/). For other fears, read [creatine and kidneys](/answers/does-creatine-damage-kidneys/).

## Products mentioned

| Product | Size | Price (source, date) | Servings | R per 5 g | Sweeteners |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATP Fitness Micronised Creatine Monohydrate | 600 g | R500 (ATP Fitness shop, 2026-10) | — | R4.17 | None |
| Biogen Creatine Monohydrate Unflavoured 500 g | 500 g | R445 (Dis-Chem (listing via PriceCheck), 2026-10) | 100 | R4.45 | None (unflavoured) |

Disclosure: ATP Fitness is a commercial partner of Healthnews24 and its products are featured on this site. Rankings follow our published method, and every pick, including ATP Fitness, shows its price maths and trade-offs.

## Sources

- [van der Merwe et al. 2009, Three weeks of creatine monohydrate supplementation affects dihydrotestosterone to testosterone ratio in college-aged rugby players (Clin J Sport Med)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19741313/)
- [Lak et al. 2025, Does creatine cause hair loss? A 12-week randomized controlled trial (JISSN)](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12020143)
- [Kreider et al. 2017, ISSN position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine (JISSN)](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5469049/)
- [Antonio et al. 2021, Common questions and misconceptions about creatine supplementation (JISSN)](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7871530/)