Does Creatine Cause Hair Loss?

As we move further into the new year, lots of people are getting further into their fitness journey and starting to take the gym more seriously. You might have made a New Year’s resolution to get to the gym more and are now looking into supplements to help you progress, a common supplement is creatine.

As with most supplements, side effects can happen. Many people will not experience any side effects, however, there are some possibilities. There have been reports that creatine can cause hair loss. It’s important to understand if there are risks to your hair while taking creatine, today we’re looking at creatine and if it can cause hair loss.

Why do you use Creatine?

Creatine is one of the most common substances that gym-goers use on a regular basis. It’s a supplement that is used to help the body during a workout. Creatine has been proven to help with muscle mass and physical strength.

Creatine is a natural substance that turns into creatine phosphate in the body, creatine phosphate helps to make the substance adenosine triphosphate which provides the energy for muscle contractions.

Does Creatine Cause Hair Loss?

There are a lot of myths about hair loss and what can cause it, and one common one we see is about Creatine causing hair loss. There isn’t much research that indicates that creatine actually causes hair loss. There is one small study of college-age rugby players that found increased levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone associated with hair loss, following 3 weeks of taking creatine on a regular basis.

The increased levels of dihydrotestosterone caused by creatine and other inorganic growth hormones cause the hair follicles to degrade and shorten the hair growth process. The hair follicles will shrink and eventually die, which results in hair not growing.

How to Prevent Creatine Hair Loss

Protein shakes that contain DHEA and creatine should be avoided if possible, organic alternatives can be found. It is important to keep a balanced diet with the essential vitamins and minerals to keep hair healthy.

Look For Warning Signs of Hair Loss

If you have experienced hair loss which you believe could be caused by protein drinks we advise you to discontinue using the drinks.

If the hair is balding at an early stage discontinuing the drink could result in regrowth. However, if the hair follicles have been destroyed by DHT a FUE Hair Transplant could be the right treatment for you.

If you would like some more information please contact us and book a free no obligation consultation for information tailored to your needs.

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