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Does creatine cause hair loss?

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T
Written by
Thomas Reed
Lauren Pike, RD
Medically Reviewed by
Lauren Pike, RD
Last Updated On

Creatine is a supplement taken to enhance your workouts at the gym. Research studies indicate its ability to boost strength as well as muscular mass. As a result, your ability to workout increases sizably. Some people believe that creatinine helps improve cerebral wellbeing and streamlines your blood sugar level; however, these beliefs need more evidence and scientific validation. But does creatine cause hair loss? It is a vital thing to have more inputs on this.

there are many types of health supplements widely available to boost performance in sports and also for your overall wellbeing. While you pursue intensive workouts or sporting actions, such supplements can make a big difference to how you perform.

What is creatine?

Creatine is a naturally available substance; it is present in your muscles. This compound helps make energy while you are lifting heavy weights or working out in an intensive manner. As a supplement, creatine is available in drugstores. Body builders and athletes take it to enhance their performance. This compound essentially enhances your system’s capability to make adenosine triphosphate (ATP); this supplies needful energies to your cells.

It is common among people engaged in sports and bodybuilding to take creatine; they take it chiefly to enable better growth of muscles. However, creatine is not classified as a key nutrient. It is mainly a derivative of an amino acid. It is transported via blood to tissues needing high-level of energy viz., muscles and brain. As vegetarians and vegans stand bereft of creatine, dietary supplements of this compound help in ensuring needful supply.

Does creatine cause hair loss?

In a study done in 2009 among a few sportspeople who took creatine led to this discovery: intake of creatine supplements can increase your dihydrotestosterone – in short, DHT. This substance is a derivative of testosterone and is linked to possible risks of hair loss. Such losses are more pronounced among people with genetic make-up that may lead to male pattern baldness.

If you are concerned of possible risks of hair loss with the use of creatine, consult with your treating doctor about it. Your physician may prescribe a dosage of ~ 4 grams per day. Your dietitian will advise you to keep your body well-hydrated. In order to have better control of dosing, take smaller portions of the daily dose of creatine – split as 3 to 4 sub-doses.

How fast does creatinine cause hair loss?

The sole link between male pattern baldness and intake of creatine supplements is DHT; this has the capability to warp the follicles of your hair. This warping or shrinking action can trigger loss of scalp hair. The loss starts off with thinning, and if left untreated, can proceed with sizable shedding of hair off the scalp.

The good news is: loss of scalp hair – caused by creatine supplements – is mostly reversible. In other words, loss of hair may stop or may reduce substantially when you stop taking creatine. You also need to know that creatine – by itself – does not make you lose hair; also, this compound is not directly linked to shrinking or warping your follicles.

You may also talk to your therapist of DHT blocking products; these are available as shampoos or other products. As an alternative, you may consider using finasteride – whose active ingredients can control the effects of DHT on your hair.

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Creatine supplements may also cause a few other side effects; these include gastric conditions like discharge of loose stools, flatulence, etc. Retention of fluids may lead to some imbalance in the levels of electrolytes. This imbalance can cause cramping of muscles.

Another key side effects of creatine is the suppression of the natural production of creatine in your system. But this is only a short-term effect; your body starts making creatine normally once you stop taking supplements. If you aim to know more on ‘does creatine cause hair loss’, talk to your treating doctor.

Disclaimer

Information provided here are only of supplementary nature. Information shared here does not substitute a qualified doctor’s advice. This website is not suggesting intake of this drug as safe or appropriate. Hence it is advised to talk to your doctor before consuming this med or any other drug.

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