Have you been wondering if your receding hairline is the effect of the creatine powder that you have been taking? Well, you are not alone in this dilemma, as most people are asking for the link between creatine and hair loss.
There is a very little spark that has turned into a fire and hate comments towards creatine powder.
In this blog, we are going to separate the facts from the fiction on hair loss that has been linked with creatine. If you are a budding bodybuilder, gym enthusiast, or worried about hair loss, then this blog is for you.
A Little Info On Creatine
While creatine is naturally produced in the pancreas, liver, and kidney, it helps in providing energy to your body. The same energy that you require for building muscles and recovery from an intense workout.
Now, as a regular body does not need increased levels of creatine to function properly, people turn to it for having a big body with strong muscles.
As a health-building supplement, creatine has received much praise and loyalty from many individuals. This supplement is suitable for a vegan and vegetarian diet which gives an edge over the other health supplements that use meat products.
It not only increases muscle mass but also helps with strength and performance for intense workouts.
Many individuals also consume this creatine powder for improved cognitive function and heart conditions. Studies have found that the consumption of creatine can also have positive effects on mental issues like Parkinson’s disease and mood disorders.
Along with this, you can also benefit from reduced oxidative stress and the symptoms of depression.
A Little On Causes Of Hair Loss
Hair loss is a natural phenomenon that occurs when your body starts to age. Both men and women experience hair loss at some point in their life.
Genetics
When you have a family history of male-pattern baldness or female-pattern baldness, there is a high chance that you will also have the same genes that lead to hair loss.
Androgenic alopecia is common and does not have any cure for it unless you start wearing a wig or extensions.
Hormonal Changes In the Body
Hormonal changes mean not only at the time of puberty but also when your body is undergoing several changes.
Pregnancy, thyroid, childbirth, menopause, or alopecia areata are some of the health conditions that can lead to extreme hair loss. Individuals who are stressed too much also experience hair loss at a high level.
Poor Diet And Malnutrition
Researchers have concluded that what you put inside your body, is what reflects on the outside. If you are not eating healthy food, and providing nutrition to your body, it is natural that you will be experiencing hair loss.
Deficiency in iron, minerals, vitamin D, B vitamins, and zinc is very important for hair growth and health.
Medications Or Treatment
Receiving chemotherapy, or medications like antidepressants, amphetamines, anti-seizure medicines, or beta-blockers, can have negative effects on hair health and result in hair loss.
One can certainly lose huge chunks of hair when they are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.
Exposure To Chemicals And Restrictive Hairstyles
While working around in a chemical factory or receiving hari treatments that involve harmful chemicals you encounter hair loss at a larger scale.
Dyeing your hair with artificial colors or straightening your hair permanently can damage your hair and cause hair loss.
Most of the time the service that we pay for looks good for some time, but turns out to be a bad decision in the long run.
Link Between Hair Loss And Creatine
There is NO direct link between hair loss and creatine, but there are factors that can lead to hair loss. While Creatine is focused on increasing the muscle mass of the body it also increases the DHT or dihydrotestosterone.
Now, this hormone does impact the loss of hair and receding of the hairline.
While we are on DHT, it is necessary to understand that it is a potent form of Testosterone a sex hormone that identifies as a male hormone.
This hormone reflects on gender traits as well and when women start to have increased facial hair or deep voice, it is regarded as increased testosterone levels in their ovaries.
Testosterone when undergoing 5-alpha-reductase, converts itself into DHT.
This conversion increases when your body is under training or growing outside its parameters. Like bodybuilding or strengthening your core.
When a male body hits puberty, there is extensive hair growth in the body and facial hair.
Along with this, DHT levels can reduce the hair growth phase and thinning of hair. The most important factor here is genes.
If your genes have good genes then you are entitled to have good hair days for your lifetime. But when the genes have increased DHT in them, it will be difficult to maintain the existing hair health in the first place.
Tips To Have Healthy Hair
Working towards a healthy hair care routine is never too late to start and can help in the long run.
- Try sleeping on the silk pillowcases for low friction and breakage of hair
- Regularly massaging your hair and scalp can increase blood circulation
- Eat a balanced diet with all the required vitamins and minerals
- Drink more water and include juices in your routine
- Use sulfate-free shampoos for deep cleansing
Conclusion
Creatine has a lot of health benefits and some side effects too, but it does not affect hair loss directly. One can say that the benefits of the creatine can result in increased DHT which can cause hair loss.
To maintain optimal levels of DHT you can start by managing your weight and avoid intoxication of any kind.
You can also consider natural DHT blockers such as saw palmetto to keep the balance of sex hormones in your body. Remember to get an adequate amount of sleep and avoid stress for healthy muscle recovery and hair growth.
References:
- Cranwell W, et al. (2016). Male androgenetic alopecia.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK278957/ - Jagim AR, et al. (2018). Safety of creatine supplementation in active adolescents and youth: A brief review. DOI:
https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2018.00115 - Androgenetic alopecia. (2020).
https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/androgenetic-alopecia
