The concern originated with a small hormone study that did not measure hair loss. A later randomized trial directly assessed hair outcomes and found no significant differences between creatine and placebo over 12 weeks. That is reassuring evidence, with the limits of the population and duration studied.
Where the DHT concern came from
A 2009 study in rugby players reported a change in dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, during a short creatine-supplementation protocol. DHT is relevant to androgenetic hair loss, which is why the finding attracted attention. But a hormone measurement is not a measurement of hair shedding, density, or follicle health.
The study therefore raised a question; it did not demonstrate that participants lost hair because they took creatine. This distinction was missing from many later retellings of the result.
What the 2025 randomized trial measured
Lak and colleagues studied creatine monohydrate at 5 grams per day versus placebo for 12 weeks in resistance-trained young men. The trial measured androgen levels and hair-related outcomes, including density and thickness. It found no significant between-group differences in the measured hormone or hair outcomes.
This study is more directly relevant to the hair-loss question than inferring hair effects from an isolated hormone result. It still does not prove that every possible effect has been ruled out in every person, at every dose, over many years.
What this means for choosing a supplement
Use the available evidence to separate a demonstrated risk from an internet claim. The direct trial does not support the claim that a standard creatine routine caused hair deterioration over its study period. It also is not a reason to ignore hair changes you notice or to assume all shedding has the same cause.
You do not need to choose a more expensive form of creatine on the basis of a claim that it is “hair safe.” Ask for actual evidence on that formulation rather than accepting a label or marketing phrase.
What if you notice shedding after starting creatine?
Timing alone does not establish the cause. Record when the change began and any other changes to your diet, medicines, training, or health. A dermatologist or other appropriate clinician can assess persistent shedding or thinning and help determine what is happening.
Do not use this article to override treatment for a diagnosed hair-loss condition. Individual medical circumstances need individual advice.
Common questions
Does creatine raise DHT?
The early hormone finding is not enough to establish a consistent effect. The 2025 trial did not find a significant difference from placebo in its measured androgen outcomes.
Did the 2009 study show baldness?
No. It did not directly measure hair-loss outcomes.
Does the newer study answer the question for women?
The direct trial enrolled men. Its findings should not be described as a dedicated trial of hair outcomes in women.
Can the 12-week result settle lifelong risk?
No study of that duration can answer every long-term question. Its value is that it directly tested the claim and found no significant difference during the study.
Read the evidence for your actual goal
For training-focused background, see our complete creatine guide and micronized creatine explained. You can review XWERKS Lift separately from the hair-loss question.
