Does Creatine Cause Hair Loss? (Science Explained)

Do you think creatine can cause hair loss? In this Science Explained video, we'll take a look at the science behind creatine and its potential links to hair loss.

As we know, creatine is a potent muscle builder and performance enhancer. But many people are worried that it causes baldness. In this video, we'll explore the science behind this link and discuss the possible side effects of creatine use related to hair loss.

[JeffNippard]

A lot of people were asking about creatine and hair loss on my last reel, so I figured I’d address it! Here are the references if you want to read more for yourself:



Peace!

[JakeShaw-sdoq]

1. The increase was a 50% from baseline, and was statistically significant.
2. Exercise increases DHT in a transient fashion. This increase in the study was measured and replicated many weeks after taking creatine.
3. Serum DHT is absolutely linked to hair loss. To experience and increase in DHT at the follicle site, you would have to experience an increase in serum DHT or an increase in follicular sensitivity. The more DHT in your blood, the more that gets delivered to your hair follicles, how much is attached to the follicle is dependant on how sensitive your follicles are to DHT - i.e, how pre-disposed you are to male pattern baldness or MPB for short.
That's why when you take Finasteride (the drug that prevents male pattern baldness), it lowers your serum DHT levels by up to 70% - so there is less being delivered to your follicles, and less to be attached. The confusion herein lies when a subject in not pre-disposed to MPB and an increase or decrease in serum DHT has no affect on local DHT, because their follicles just aren't sensitive enough to be affected.
4. No other studies on creatine have actually looked at DHT, so the fact that it hasn't been replicated in these studies is not evidence. If 100 people that DON'T eat apples report that an apple has never made them sick, is that evidence that apples don't make you sick? Obviously not.

A better way to look at it would be this. Serum DHT is inextricably linked to hair loss. The ONLY study ever to look at creatine and DHT showed a statistically significant increase in serum DHT. There are also tens of thousands of anecdotal accounts detailing creatine consumption inducing hair loss, with the side effects subsiding after discontinuation.

Now, is that enough scientific evidence to forthrightly say creatine causes hair loss, no. But to conclude from these findings that creatine "probably doesn't" have an effect on hair loss is either very poor judgement or just plain dishonesty.

[shawnhammond]

I am very respondent to creatine and it DEFINITELY causes hair loss for me

[FireMarbles]

Based on the thumbnail I didn't know who the hell this was or why they were in my subscriptions. I had to double check I was even on the correct account.

[faithbxo]

I started going to the gym and lifting last year. 4 months into my fitness journey I started taking creatine. 4 to 6 weeks into taking creatine my hair was falling out so much. Like clumps of hair in the shower. I didn’t get any bald spots but my hair thinned so much in a few months. I stopped taking creatine. The thinning slowed down but my hair hasn’t gone back to normal a year later. It’s not very noticeable because I naturally have super thick curly hair. Even though the science is saying it’s not linked to hair loss, I’ve noticed a quite a few other people who have had the same experience as me. Hopefully someone can do a study on people who do end up losing their hair while taking creatine.

[KeyKng]

As a bald man who just started creatine. I don't know why I watched this entire video

[aidenlebel]

I’ve been off and on creatine for years. Every time I get back on it I start loosing hella hair. My good buddy has the same issues. It definitely happens

[MultiPcExpertGhost]

It’s also the ONLY study that looked into this.

[JerkStoreAssistManag]

I have held off on years because of this exact reason. I’d rather have less gains than less hair. But now that Jeff’s covered it, I will reconsider.

[sadrav]

I'm not hesitant to take creatine because of that study.
Abundance of anecdotal evidence that say it Does make you lose your hair is what is making me hesitant.

[benmo]

Jokes on you, my hair is already gone

[thekramer]

My dad started going bald at like 45. His dad was also bald. I thought creatine would make me go bald so didn't take it until last year when I started. Absolutely nothing has happened, to my hair, but has improved my workouts A LOT. Now I regret not starting before

[fyhmpxt]

man, there will never ever be as much reliable source of knowledge in fitness as you

[pandrai]

I lost my hair at 17 so i think I need more research about creatine hair loss before I start using it

[Hughjass]

Anecdotally, creatine rapidly accelerated hair loss for me personally. I have genetic predisposition though and started balding in HS. Creatine just sped it up

[Jositoooo]

I used creatine heavily for about a year 15 YEARS AGO (in my late 20’s) and had fairly rapid hair loss at that time so I stopped using it. The hair loss stopped and has been stable since then, again for 15 damn years. I do think I’m predisposed to hair loss, but I experienced more of it during that 1 year than I have since through all of my 30’s and into my 40’s. So I don’t care what the studies say, I’m convinced it happened to me and I won’t touch the stuff again.

[MT-hypr]

I didn't take creatine for a long time because I love my hair. It still gives me the fear.

[markokruse]

How do you explain all the people who start shedding large amounts of hair when they start taking it? That has happened to a lot of guys🤔

[toonnaobi-okoye]

In my personal experience, I noticed more hair thinning and loss when I started hitting the gym with creatine hard, so I have paused both to observed if there are other factors at play. I don't think I am predisposed to balding, the men in my lineage as much as I can tell had a good amount of hair till old age, hence I'm more suspicious on creatine.

[armitageshanks]

OK, from now on I'm no longer lifting, cuz it boosts DHT