Demystifying Creatine: Hair Loss, Acne, and Hormones

‍

Introduction

Hey, James Grage here. With over 25 years of experience in the supplement industry and as a CISSN Sports Nutritionist, creatine ranks high among my favorite supplements. Nonetheless, rumors and misconceptions, such as potential side effects like hair loss and acne, have caused hesitation for many. Today, we aim to separate fact from fiction.

‍

A Closer Look

The common misconception is that creatine supplementation leads to an increase in both testosterone and DHT (Dihydrotestosterone). This speculation probably stemmed from a study done in 2009 where college-age male rugby players were put on a creatine protocol. After three weeks, they saw a statistically significant increase in DHT levels. This led to a widespread belief that creatine causes an increase in DHT levels, potentially resulting in hair loss and acne.

The Truth Behind the Study

However, if you were to only reference this one study, you might actually believe that. But there are a few important things to note. Since this 2009 study, there have been 12 additional studies that have investigated the correlation between creatine supplementation and testosterone levels. Out of those 12, only two showed any kind of increase in total testosterone, and they found it to be insignificant.

Creatine and Hormones

Every pore in the human skin also is a hair follicle. These hair follicles have hormone receptors and a sebaceous gland, which produces sebum, the body's natural oil. Hormones like testosterone and the conversion to DHT ultimately act upon that hormone receptor.

For some people who are sensitive to DHT, this can result in that pore or hair follicle shrinking, which ultimately leads to hair loss. These same hormones can act on the sebaceous gland, making it produce more sebum, which can overproduce oil, clog the pore and cause acne.

The Link

Now, when it comes to both hair loss and acne, there is no concrete scientific evidence linking creatine to hair loss and acne. However, based on the 2009 study, it is possible that you might see an increase in DHT levels even though they didn't show an increase in free testosterone.

It's theorized that this may be because of activity with the five alpha reductase enzyme, which converts testosterone to DHT. So even though we don't see an increase in testosterone levels, we still might possibly see an increase in DHT. Again, there is no concrete scientific evidence of this, but it's important to acknowledge the possibility.

Wrapping Up

To wrap up, it's probably unlikely that your creatine supplement is causing hair loss or acne. It's also important to remember that creatine is not a weird foreign chemical. It's a natural substance found not only in our body but also in the foods that we eat.

It's time to ditch the gym folklore or myths and embrace all the potential benefits of taking a creatine supplement. Hopefully, this discussion has given you a better understanding of creatine supplementation and its effects.

‍