Creatine and hair loss became linked in gym talk because of one small study from 2009, and the worry has spread faster than the evidence. Many people now search “creatine se baal jhadte hain kya” before buying their first tub. This page explains what that study found, what a 2025 trial that actually measured hair found, and what nobody knows yet.
For causes, tests and treatment of every type of hair loss, see our complete guide to hair loss in India.
Creatine and hair loss: where the worry started
Creatine is a compound the body makes from amino acids in the kidneys and liver, and people also get it from meat or as a supplement. It helps muscles make energy during short, hard efforts, which is why it is popular with people who lift weights.
The worry comes from a 2009 study of 20 college-aged rugby players in South Africa. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, each player took creatine for three weeks, a high “loading” amount for 7 days and then a lower daily amount for 14 days, and also took a placebo in a separate period.
- Testosterone did not change.
- Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) rose. DHT, a hormone the body makes from testosterone, was 56% higher after the 7 loading days and still 40% above baseline after 14 more days.
- Hair was never measured. The authors did not report on anyone’s hair. They called for more research into the long-term safety of the hormone change.
Because DHT drives inherited pattern hair loss in follicles that are sensitive to it, readers joined the dots: creatine raises DHT, so creatine must cause baldness. That leap was never tested in 2009.
Does creatine cause hair loss? The 2025 trial that measured hair
A 2025 randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial from Iran was the first to look at hair directly. It enrolled 45 men aged 18 to 40 who had been weight training for at least a year; 38 completed the 12 weeks. Half took a common daily amount of creatine and half took a look-alike placebo powder.
- Hormones: no difference between the groups in DHT, testosterone or the ratio of DHT to testosterone.
- Hair: dermatologists measured hair density, the number of follicle groups and hair thickness on the crown with a scalp-imaging camera and a hair count under magnification. None changed differently between the groups.
- Side effects: none were reported in either group.
A 2021 review of common creatine myths had already pointed out that the 2009 result was never repeated, and that the rise in DHT stayed “well within normal clinical limits”. It concluded that “the current body of evidence does not indicate that creatine supplementation increases total testosterone, free testosterone, DHT or causes hair loss/baldness”.
| Study | Who took part | Was hair measured? | What it found |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 rugby trial | 20 college-aged rugby players, 3 weeks | No | Blood DHT higher; testosterone unchanged |
| 2021 review | Summary of 12 other studies on testosterone, plus the 2009 trial | No study had measured hair | No reliable rise in testosterone or DHT; no study reporting hair loss |
| 2025 trial | 38 weight-training men aged 18 to 40, 12 weeks | Yes, by dermatologists | No change in DHT or hair compared with placebo |
What the evidence cannot say yet
The 2025 trial is reassuring, but it is one small study. Its authors list the gaps themselves, and they matter if you are deciding for yourself.
- Only men, only 12 weeks. Women were not studied, and the authors say a longer or higher-dose study might give a different answer.
- Blood, not scalp. Hormones were measured in blood. DHT acts inside the scalp follicle, and the authors suggest measuring it in hair in future.
- Family history was not recorded. The men most worried about creatine, those whose fathers went bald, were not studied as a separate group.
- Industry ties. Some authors of both the 2025 trial and the 2021 review declare advisory roles or research support from supplement and creatine companies. That does not make the results wrong, but an independent repeat would help.
- No Indian data. We found no study of creatine and hair in Indian men or women.
If your hair is already thinning
If you already have a receding hairline or a thinning crown, the cause is almost certainly inherited pattern hair loss, which the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says can begin as early as the teens. Our guide to the stages of hair loss explains how it is graded. Pattern loss tends to continue without treatment, with or without creatine.
Some men with a strong family history choose to avoid creatine while the evidence is thin; others carry on. Either is a reasonable personal choice. What matters more is getting the hair loss diagnosed early, because AAD says treatment works better when it starts early. If you are being treated, tell your dermatologist about every supplement you take.
Track change with monthly photos of your hairline and crown in the same light, rather than counting hairs in the shower. If you notice more shedding after starting any new product, note the date and tell your doctor.
The bigger risks to your hair from gym habits
Creatine is not an anabolic steroid; the 2021 review explains that its chemical structure is completely different. Other gym habits have a clearer link with hair loss.
- Hidden steroids in supplements. A 2019 Indian expert consensus on pattern hair loss advises dermatologists to ask men about protein shakes and whey products, because some “are known to contain anabolic steroids”. Buy only products with a full ingredient list and a manufacturer you can trace.
- Crash cutting diets. AAD lists too little protein or iron as a cause of hair loss. A very low-calorie “cut” before a competition or a wedding can trigger heavy shedding a few months later. Our list of high-protein vegetarian foods helps you keep protein up from ordinary meals.
- Steroid injections or tablets. If you have used them, or been offered them at a gym, tell your doctor. Pattern hair loss depends on male hormones: a dermatology review recalls early observations that castrated men did not go bald unless they were given testosterone.
Also tell your doctor if you take creatine before a kidney blood test. The review notes that creatine supplements and meat can raise blood creatinine, the marker labs use to estimate kidney function, which can make results look worse than they are. If you have kidney disease, ask your doctor before taking creatine at all.
When to see a doctor
These are the main warning signs; the hub has the full list of hair-loss warning signs.
Emergency: get help now
- A painful, swollen or pus-filled scalp patch with fever or feeling very unwell.
- Chest pain, severe breathlessness, or yellow skin or eyes after taking a gym supplement or steroid.
Prompt review: within days to a few weeks
- Round bald patches, or hair loss from the eyebrows, eyelashes or beard.
- Heavy shedding after a crash diet or rapid weight loss.
- Hair loss after using a product sold for muscle gain that you suspect contains steroids.
Routine review
- A receding hairline or thinning crown that keeps changing over months, especially with a family history.
- Before starting any supplement if you have kidney disease, diabetes or take regular medicines.
How Disha can help
Disha is an AI health coach that chats and calls in Hindi, English and Hinglish. It can help you plan meals with enough protein and iron from familiar Indian food, avoid crash diets and keep up sleep and training routines alongside your doctor’s advice. It does not recommend supplements or doses, diagnose hair loss, interpret tests, prescribe or provide emergency care, and it does not replace your doctor. Read how Disha coaching works.
This is not medical advice. This page is general education for adults (18+), not a diagnosis or treatment plan, and it does not recommend creatine or any dose. Ask a doctor or registered dietitian before starting a supplement, especially if you have kidney disease or take regular medicines. In an emergency, call 112.
Frequently asked questions
Does creatine cause hair loss?
Current evidence says no. The only trial that measured hair, a 2025 study of 38 men over 12 weeks, found no difference in hair density, thickness or DHT between creatine and placebo. The worry comes from a 2009 study that showed a rise in blood DHT but never looked at hair. Longer studies, and studies in women, have not been done yet.
Does creatine increase DHT?
One 2009 study of 20 rugby players found blood DHT 56% higher after a week of high-amount creatine and 40% higher two weeks later, with no change in testosterone. That result has not been repeated. The 2025 trial found no difference in DHT between creatine and placebo after 12 weeks. A 2021 review said the 2009 rise stayed within normal clinical limits.
Should I stop creatine if my hair is thinning?
There is no evidence that stopping creatine will stop or reverse thinning, because the likely cause is inherited pattern hair loss or another cause a doctor can find. Some men with a strong family history prefer to avoid it while evidence is limited, which is a reasonable personal choice. Either way, see a dermatologist early and tell them every supplement you take.
Is creatine a steroid?
No. Creatine is made in the body from amino acids and is found in meat; a 2021 review explains that its chemical structure is completely different from anabolic steroids. The real steroid risk at the gym is products that contain hidden steroids. An Indian expert consensus advises dermatologists to ask about protein shakes for this reason. Choose products with full labels and a traceable manufacturer.
Can women take creatine without losing hair?
No study has looked at creatine and hair in women. The 2025 trial included only men, and its authors say research in women is needed. Hair loss in women is more often linked to shedding after illness or childbirth, low iron, thyroid problems, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or inherited thinning. A woman who notices thinning should see a doctor rather than blame one supplement.
Can creatine affect my blood test results?
Yes, it can affect one common test. Creatine supplements, like meat, can raise blood creatinine, which labs use to estimate kidney function. This can make a healthy kidney result look worse than it is. Tell your doctor that you take creatine before a kidney test. If you already have kidney disease, ask your doctor before taking creatine.
Do protein shakes cause hair fall?
Protein itself does not cause hair fall; too little protein can. The concern is with what some products contain: a 2019 Indian expert consensus says some protein shakes and whey products are known to contain anabolic steroids, which is why dermatologists are advised to ask about them. Most people can meet their protein needs from ordinary food. A registered dietitian can check your diet.
Sources
- van der Merwe J, Brooks NE, Myburgh KH. Three weeks of creatine monohydrate supplementation affects dihydrotestosterone to testosterone ratio in college-aged rugby players. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 2009. Double-blind placebo-controlled crossover trial, 20 players. Supports: testosterone unchanged; DHT up 56% after 7 days and 40% above baseline after 14 more days; DHT to testosterone ratio up 36% and 22%; call for further investigation of long-term safety. Hair not measured.
- Lak M, et al. Does creatine cause hair loss? A 12-week randomized controlled trial. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2025. Randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Supports: 45 resistance-trained men aged 18–40, 38 completed; no group differences in DHT, testosterone, DHT to testosterone ratio, hair density, follicular unit count or hair thickness; assessments by dermatologists; no side effects reported; limitations (men only, 12 weeks, plasma not hair androgens, family history not recorded); authors’ declared industry ties.
- Antonio J, Candow DG, Forbes SC, et al. Common questions and misconceptions about creatine supplementation: what does the scientific evidence really show? Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 2021. Review. Supports: creatine made from amino acids in kidneys and liver and eaten in meat; not an anabolic steroid; 2009 result not replicated and within normal clinical limits; 12 other testosterone studies; summary statement on hair loss; creatine and meat raising blood creatinine; authors’ declared industry ties.
- Mysore V, Parthasaradhi A, Kharkar RD, et al. Expert consensus on the management of androgenetic alopecia in India. International Journal of Trichology, 2019. Supports: DHT’s key role in pattern hair loss; asking about protein shakes and whey products “known to contain anabolic steroids”.
- American Academy of Dermatology. Hair loss: Who gets and causes. Accessed November 2026. Supports: hereditary loss can begin in the teens and continues without treatment; earlier treatment works better; too little protein or iron as a cause; shedding a few months after a stressful event.
- Asfour L, Cranwell W, Sinclair R. Male androgenetic alopecia. Endotext, US National Library of Medicine, last updated January 2023. Supports: DHT acting on follicle androgen receptors in genetically susceptible men; androgen dependence of pattern hair loss.
Related reads
- Hair loss in India: causes, tests, treatment and daily care: the full overview; this page covers only creatine and gym supplements.
- Stages of hair loss: the Norwood and Ludwig scales and how hair loss is tested.
- Foods for hair fall: protein, iron and the nutrients hair needs from Indian meals.
- Weight-loss supplements and injections: what the evidence says about popular products.
- All hair loss articles: every Disha guide on hair fall and thinning.
- BMI calculator with Indian cut-offs: a screening number for overall health while you work on habits.
