Anyone that visits the gym regularly, or that has scrolled through the fitness accounts of other people likely hears people murmur to themselves how creatine can cause baldness. And because people are repeating the phrase without ever fact checking what its actual origin is it’s become one of those rumors you often get told as being completely and undeniably true. But let’s set the record straight in the simplest possible terms and we are going to take an in depth look at how it relates to creatine and hair loss.
What Is Creatine, Anyway?
An organic molecule existing in the cells within muscles, creatine is among the highest examined, extensively-used nutritional supplements by athletes, gym rats, and even athletes. Body-Builders are generally considering these particular supplements to enable muscles to give off a more substantial amount of energy throughout vigorous workout regimens for better toughness as well as faster healing and also recuperation time, as well as to allow the muscles to provide extra efforts with the help of additional energy. Creatine is not regarded as a steroid substance. It isn’t an unusual compound; alternatively the body generates limited quantities for the body and it also might also be procured via red meat, in addition to a type of seafood and dietary supplements merely supplement this by supplementing using food you may take part in.
Where Did the Creatine and Hair Loss Rumour Start?
So where does the link between creatine and hair loss even begin? It actually primarily stems from just one single, relatively small study performed on college rugby players back in 2009. In that one study, participants supplemented with creatine and researchers discovered they had increased levels of a hormone known as DHT (dihydrotestosterone). The crucial thing here is that the hormone DHT is known to cause baldness in males predisposed to losing their hair due to their genetics.
What the Research Actually Shows
But here’s the rub: that specific study never measured hair loss. What they measured was a hormone. No study has ever followed people using creatine and counted shedding, thinning, or bald spots. And no subsequent study has ever proven a clear, long-term link between supplementing with creatine and experiencing hair loss.
To put it simply, a spike in DHT does not necessarily cause your hair to fall out. It’s normal for hormones to ebb and flow for a number of reasons, including your workouts, stress levels, how you sleep, your diet, and even supplementation.
Who Might Actually Be Affected
However, if you are already genetically prone to male/female pattern hair loss your follicles might be more susceptible to DHT. Anything that increases your levels of DHT – even a little bit – might help move along something that was always going to happen. It isn’t causing hair loss from scratch – at best, it will accelerate something that genetics put in motion for you already. If you don’t have a genetic predisposition you don’t need to worry about creatine and hair loss.
So, Should You Stop Taking Creatine?
Creatine and hair loss – yes or no? Creatine and hair loss – yes or no? | 5th – 10th October 2023 | By Health & Wellness Health & Wellness Although there appears to be evidence of creatine having a link with hair loss, with a small study of young football players in 2009 demonstrating an increase in the level of DHT or the chief cause for more commonly seen hair loss in subjects taking the supplement, the effect is possibly very small and for many, potentially irrelevant.
When It’s Time to See a Specialist
If you have a hair fall that started appearing too noticeable or you started to notice back moving the hairline back to avoid this then it is high time you started doing something to avoid and reverse this. Whether it be hormones that are contributing to hair loss or other factors, a professional consultation can help determine what your scalp is telling us about your body and recommend the right path forward. QHT Clinic, famous for providing the best hair transplant in Gurgaon, ensures that our patients get down to the underlying cause of their hair loss before any treatment is administered, this could be changing some habits or a permanent hair loss treatment like a hair transplant.
The Bottom Line
The anxiety about creatine and hair loss comes from a tiny study that didn’t even measure actual hair loss. As for the rest of the world, taking creatine is perfectly fine. If you’re destined to lose your hair because of genetics, it’s worth being aware, but that post-workout protein shake is unlikely the reason for your advancing baldness. As with any concerns, the smart play is to skip the bro science and consult an actual hair doctor for the answers, rather than a bunch of guys who frequent gyms and have questionable grooming habits.
