Creatine And Hair Loss: Is There Any Connection?

Hair loss. Many people have this problem. Hair plays a huge role to look handsome. Hence we all are trying not to lose our hair at any cost. However, there are so many people who have already lost their hair. People use so many hair care products to retain their hair. So many people use a creatine supplement that popular nutritional and sports supplement. Many people thought that creatine can lead to hair loss. But the question is, is that actually true? So here in this article, we are going to discuss creatine and hair loss.

Creatine can not directly lead to hair loss but yes it can affect hormone levels that do. There are so many athletes and bodybuilders who usually take this creatine supplement to improve their muscles. And also use to improve their workout performance. To get the creatine dose you can take a supplement or you can take red meat instead.

So stay continue with this article to know the benefits, side effects, and what the study says about the connection between creatine and hair loss.

What study says about hair loss and creatine

There is not much evidence about creatine supplement that it can cause hair loss. Moreover, most of the evidence for the link is unknown. This means that this comes from individuals’ testimony and personal experience.

Moreover, in a small study of 2009, some rugby players claim that they increase the levels of the hormone linked with hair loss using 3 weeks of creatine supplement.

Creatine and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels

DHT is nothing but a hormone. Which formed from the hormone that can be familiar with testosterone. Moreover, DHT is stronger than testosterone.

How does DHT relate to hair loss?

Hair follicles have their own life cycle. The stage of growth of a hair comes after rest, after that the hair falls out.

DHT can tie to explicit hormone receptors in hair follicles. This can prompt briefer hair development cycles just as hairs that are more slender and more limited. Since there’s less hair development, a bigger number of hairs are dropping out than are replaced.

Moreover, there some people who are having a genetic predisposition for hair loss. A mutation in a gene named AR may increase the activity of hormone receptors found in hair follicles. Furthermore, the enzymes which convert testosterone hormone to DHT can be more effective in people with hair loss.

Does Creatine Cause Hair Loss?

The single scientific bit in the literature that is linked creatine and hair loss was published in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine in a 2009 study. That study pursued 20 male rugby players who took 25 grams of creatine regimen supplements a day for a short period of 3 weeks.

In that test period, it was shown that the supplement could convert testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). In that trial, it was found that DHT has increased to over 50% during the first week and in the next two weeks, it stayed 40 percent.

Here it is important to note that researchers do not notice hair fall in study participants. Thus, it is impossible for the creatine supplement itself to cause hair loss.

DHT, considered to be a strong androgen hormone for men-punk beard baldness at risk of genetically losing hair. There was no evidence of hair fall other than this spike in numbers and no data showed that test subjects were predetermined for male-pattern baldness.

This clearly states in the study’s conclusion that before drawing judgment, further investigation is needed because this team was too small to establish the findings. The study simply described a picture of the relationship between creatine intake and higher DHT levels. This doesn’t allow a direct correlation between creatine and hair loss, or even linking the two.

Increasing DHT alone does not makes your hair thinner and fall out. Your body must be sensitive to DHT to have any obvious effect on creatine hair loss and genetics also plays a big part.

For an individual, the exact reason for hair fall can be different. Hair fall can be seen in many factors such as hormones, age genetics. Creatin causes hair to fall in very rare cases. So there is no need to blame that you are losing your hair due to creatine.

Moreover, there are more study is needed to check the effects of creatine on DHT levels. Further study should be done to determine whether the rise in DHT due to creatine supplementation is enough to encourage hair loss.

How does creatine work?

Creatine is a source of muscle energy. It is produced naturally by your liver, pancreas, and kidneys. You may also gain creatine through dieting by eating red meat and fish.

Creatine mainly stored in the skeletal muscles like phosphocreatine. It can break down later on after physical activity used as a force for muscle contraction.

More creatine is available to your muscles once you consume creatine supplements. This increase in creatinine levels may cause your muscles to be able to produce more energy.

Due to this, few people consume creatine to increment their muscle mass and enhance athletic performance.

Side effects and safety

Before using any supplement you should aware of the side effects of that product. Every product has some potential side effects. Also, you should look at the safety concern. So here we will share the side effects and safety concerns of creatine.

Water retention

Water retention can be caused by creatine. In that case, you can see a temporary weight gain. Water retention may or may not be responsible for dehydration and cramps. However, the study does not support these facts.

Through a study of 2003, college football players have found that creatine does not increase the level of cramping or injury. Furthermore, the 2009 review found no evidence that creatine use negatively affects fluid balance or heat tolerance.

Kidney concerns

Moreover, there are also some concerns that creatine may harm the kidneys. A review of 2018, which found that in healthy persons there are no negative effects on kidney function. If you think that you have a kidney problem you may avoid using a creatine supplement.

Safe for adults

Creatine has been widely studied in terms of benefits compared to other supplements. Creatine is safe to use when taking it in an appropriate dose as per the International Society of Sports Nutrition.

A study says that creatine is safe, effective, and ethical if it is used under proper guidelines.

There are some studies to evaluate the effects of creatine for long-term use. Moreover, some old studies of athletes pointed out that using creatine for the long-term may not have any adverse health effects.

Be careful with teenagers

In the case of teenagers, caution should be taken before using creatine. Because the study says that using creatine in teenagers the safety is limited.

Now if you want to start to use creatine but you have so many questions then you should consult with a doctor first.

How to stop hair loss due to creatine?

There are so many solutions for treating your hair fall- from medication such as minoxidil and finasteride to hair replacement and laser therapy.

However, consulting your dermatologist is understandable as to the root cause of your hair loss. To fight hair loss you need to know what you are up against. To fight to prevent hair fall that all you need to know is what you are up against.

Does hair return after creatine hair loss?

Everyone responds in a different way to supplements, drugs, and products. Although creatine can or can not have any side effects on hair fall, first and foremost it’s extremely important to accomplish the type of hair loss.

In the case we assume that creatine has fallen out of your hair, you may experience a falling about two months after you start taking the supplement.

You need to stop using it to grow your hair back and speak to a doctor who will give you the best treatment according to your needs. So if you do this you will be able to see the growth.

When to see a doctor

As stated above, the creatine supplement can not cause hair loss. Still, if you think that you are losing your hair then you should speak to your primary physician.

In addition, you must see your physician if you have sudden, frizzy hair loss or excessive hair loss while brushing or washing.

There are so many causes of hair loss and they can be prevented. Your doctor will help you to find the exact causes of hair loss and then suggest the best treatment that suits you.

The Bottom Line

Studies have not shown that creatine can directly damage hair, but need more research. But a study of 2009, that finds that creatine does not lead to hair fall but it is linked with an increase in a hormone named DHT, which can cause hair fall.

So overall, as per the currently available evidence, creatine is safe to use as a supplement for most adults. But it can increase DHT levels, you may want to talk to your physician before using creatine or using it if you are at risk of hair loss.

FAQ

Q: Will 5g of creatine cause hair loss?
A: We’ll get it right: no scientific study has ever determined that creatine damages hair. In a 2009 study of only 20 rugby players, athletes were required to take 25g / day creatine powder for one week, then 5g / day for 2 weeks, and their results were compared only with the group taking placebo.

Q: Does hair grow back after creatine?
A: When you consume large amounts of creatine, your body increases dihydrotestosterone so much that the hair follicles cannot absorb the nutrients they need. Without these nutrients, hair cannot develop as it should. The result is that hair will no longer grow after falling out.

Q: Is creatine hair loss reversible?
A: On the off chance if creatine is the cause of your hair loss, shedding started about two months after you started taking the supplement. Assuming that your hair has become thinner as a result of creatine use, it should start growing after you stop eating.

Q: Does creatine cause hair loss bodybuilding?
A: Taking creatine supplements does not result in direct hair loss. There is still no study that establishes their connection. However, if you are taking creatine supplements and your hair is being damaged, it is best to make an appointment with a doctor. They will give you the best solution for creatine and hair loss.

Share this post