Does creatine cause balding / hair loss? There is a vast majority of speculation about the link between creatine supplementation used by bodybuilders and athletes concerning creatine side effects with hair follicle stem cells loss, dehydration, kidney health, muscle cramping, and the theory associated with DHT causing hair loss.
This remains a widespread question (true or false) and still gained momentum to this day. But thanks to a single scientific study with 20 male rugby players, we now know that this answer is true. Yes, creatine does cause hair loss.
Continue reading to find out more about how a man loses their hair and why this is connected to creatine hair loss.
What is Male Pattern Baldness?
This happens in males who are sensitive to DHT which is a hormone called Dihydrotestosterone, and your body converts testosterone to DHT, and DHT is actually five times more powerful than testosterone, men with stages of male pattern baldness have been shown to have higher levels of DHT in their scalp and DHT is thought to attach to their receptor on hair follicles and trigger them to shrink causing your hair to thin out and eventually fall out.
So that’s the connection. Well, there is evidence suggesting that creatine does bald and increases your level of DHT, which could be causing hair loss in men.
What does the scientific study say about creatine and hair loss?
As discussed above, a 2009 study was done on twenty rugby players that proved the correlation between creatine and a rise in DHT levels.
In this study, ten players were given a placebo and the other ten received elevated levels of creatine for three weeks. One week they took 25 grams a day, then for the following two weeks, they took five grams per day.
The group supplemented with creatine shows an increase of 56 percent of DHT levels after the first week.
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WATCH NOWIn the following two weeks, when the doses would reduce down to 5 grams per day, DHT levels reduced to 40%.
Showed that the consumption of creatine increases DHT levels in all cells and including hair follicles.
Conclusion
Based on this study, you can conclude that creatine does increase DHT levels, which can lead to hair loss. But before you guys all start throwing your bottles of creatine in the rubbish for fear of being bald, here are a few more points.
- This is the only study I could find on the topic does creatine cause balding, and it was only done with 20 people. Now, this doesn’t mean the study was bad, it just means that Stages of Balding don’t have other studies to compare it to, and drawing a big conclusion like this one from only one study is questionable at best.
- Number to an increase in DHT levels will only cause baldness if you are genetically prone to it, male pattern baldness is genetic guys, which means it doesn’t happen to everyone.
Are you DHT sensitive?
How to how if you in the DHT sensitive group, well the suspect gene variation causes this sits on the X-chromosome, which is handed down to men by their mother. This means that baldness comes from your mother’s side of the family.
If there are cases of baldness in your mom’s side of the family, that’s a sign that you might be sensitive to DHT.
What is Creatine good side?
Creatine exists in our body to strengthen our muscles, and some people take it as a supplement to improve their performance in the gym. In short, creatine can lead to more strength in training than protein, which leads to more muscle repair after training. Creatine has become ubiquitous in nutritional supplements for athletes because it contributes to muscle development.
Benefits of Creatine
Clinical studies have for example shown that taking a creatine supplement causes measurable increases in muscle mass and strength. A major review of popular supplements choose creatine as the most beneficial supplement to add muscle mass. Clinical studies have also shown that athletes taking creatine supplements outperform the computors group by up to 43 percent.
- Effects on strength and training performance Creatine improves strength and as well as training performance with high intensity.
- The effect of Creatine on increased endurance is associated with increased strength, fatigue resistance, increased muscle mass, faster recovery, and improved brain performance.
- Creatine, it seems to fight short-term blood sugar spikes, but also lowers blood sugar in the long term.
- Creatine increases muscle strength, which can help you in the gym work out longer and give you a bigger muscle pump.
Creatine side effects hair loss
There are side effects that are associate with creatine, but only if you’re taking or consuming high amount can cause common sides affects, like muscle cramping or dehydration. You should take creatine 5 grams a day and drink enough water to avoid cramps. Other side effect creatine may include:
- Compartment syndrome
- Rhabdomyolysis
- Kidney damage
- Liver damage
- Kidney stones
- Weight gain
- Bloating
- Dehydration
- Muscle cramps
These unfriendly effects are also influenced by your overall health and any underlying medical issues. Some of the most serious toxic effects might cause damage to major aspects including the kidneys, liver, and heart.
Does hair grow back after creatine?
If you consider that creatine causes hair loss, and notice scalp is visible, then blading will begin within two to three months. But let us presume that consuming creatine causes your hair to start shedding, after you stop using creatine supplement it will begin to regrowth. However, if creatine caused your genetic problem, your hair doesn’t always return without a recovery treatment.
It’s necessary to figure out why you’re losing your hair because one issue might be adding to another, increasing your situation. If you have a genetic problem that affects you as bald, for example, taking certain supplements will accelerate overall hair loss.
Creatine Hair Loss Related Treatment
Several medications are available to help balance DHT levels in the blood and hence prevent hair loss caused by it, these are well-known antagonists of 5-reductase. These medications improve blood flow to the scalp and reduce DHT levels.
But, Before taking any medication, see a doctor because everyone’s reaction to some treatments is different if it’s not natural. The only way to fix the symptoms produced along by increased DHT levels is to improve blood flow. DHT development is inhibited.
The treatments listed below are accessible on the market; however, be sure that your treatment case is based on your scalp condition and medical history-
Platelet-rich plasma: It’s a really efficient and safe solution that helps throughout the natural promotion of hair growth. This is indeed a non-invasive and therapeutic approach that requires pulling your own blood, isolating growth-rich blood plasma from it using a centrifuge machine, and injecting these stimulated blood platelets into your scalp with an injection. These platelets assist to stimulate hair follicles and aid in hair regrowth and restoration.
Because blood platelets have the potential to rebuild cells, PRP helps in the stimulation of new hair growth.
Minoxidil: This anagen phase can be lengthened and the blood supply to hair follicles increased by using 2% or 5% with this solution. This role of quality treatment is well-known for its efficacy, although effects take four months to appear after the first use. It has been authorized by the USA (FDA) Food and Drug Administration for treating hairline receding, hair loss, and thinning.
Finasteride: This is an oral medicine that works as a type 2 inhibitors of 5-alpha reductase. The USA FDA has authorized it for the treatment of hair loss in males only. Research studies show that it significantly reduces the symptoms of androgenetic alopecia while also stimulating hair regeneration. This treatment should be taken continually because stopping it can have negative consequences.
Biotin: Vitamin H is responsible for having healthy hair, skin, and nails. Biotin pills are the most effective DHT blockers in terms of hair regeneration. The best shampoo for bald men is the Biotin Shampoo and condition.
Hair growth has been proven to be stimulated by omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids, and antioxidants, but consult your dermatologist before using any hair recovery supplements.
Finally, for does creatine cause balding
Creatine has been linked to an increase in dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels in the body, which leads to hair thinning, hair loss, and a receding hair line. Even if there are numerous hair loss options, it is necessary to visit a dermatologist to determine the reason of your hair loss, as the variables that impact hair loss are interconnected like a mesh. To combat hair loss, you must first understand what you have been up against.
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Medically Team reviewed by Dr. Ljuba Zsolnai and updated. With professional help, Anthony research and only provide content that delivers results. The name "Stages of Balding" accurately reflects the blog's purpose: to provide practical solutions and guidance without requiring extensive research on the reader's part.
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