A common nutritional and athletic supplement is creatine. It’s possible that you’ve read that taking creatine can cause hair loss. But is this true?

Rumors and misconceptions about creatine are still prevalent. Creatine may or may not contribute to hair loss, according to the available evidence.

Learn more about creatine in the following paragraphs, including its advantages, disadvantages, and what the science says about its relationship to hair loss.

Can Creatine Cause Hair Loss?

Creatine does indeed contribute to hair loss. But it’s a backdoor method. Creatine supplements cause an increase in DHT levels, which alters the enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT. losing hair as a result.

A cycle of growth, resting, and hair follicle fallout is the ideal pattern for hair follicle growth. This phase of hair growth is accelerated by the increased rate of DHT binding to hair follicles. This causes hair strands to become thinner and weaker, which causes hair loss to occur quickly.

In 2009, a group of rugby players was given supplements containing a higher concentration of creatine, according to a study that was medically reviewed at the time. A maintenance period with a lower concentration was then performed after the seven days of this. As a result, DHT levels increased by 50% during the first seven days and stayed there for the duration of the maintenance phase, remaining at 40%. The increase in DHT levels is startling, despite the fact that this study had nothing to do with hair loss. Plus, if you are susceptible to hair loss due to hereditary genes, then high levels of DHT in your system might cause it to occur even faster.

The possibility that taking creatine supplements alone can cause hair loss needs to be investigated further.

The increased levels of DHT alter hair growth by speeding up the cycle of each hair follicles, which can cause hair loss. Therefore, over time, people who take creatine experience hair loss. It is unclear whether the rise in DHT caused by taking these supplements can have an impact on ovarian function.

Regardless of the relationship between high levels of DHT and hair loss, there are different options to manage hair loss effectively. Scalp micropigmentation is a prime illustration. A non-surgical procedure known as scalp micropigmentation was created specifically to assist those who experience hair loss. This procedure involves applying a natural pigment directly to the area of the scalp’s dermal layer where hair loss is occurring. showing no signs of hair loss and portraying a naturally shaved head.

Among those who experience hair loss, scalp micropigmentation has gained enormous popularity.

What is Creatine?

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is known to be recycled more easily in the brain and muscles thanks to the popular organic compound creatine. Since ATP serves as the basis for cellular energy, creatine aids in the replacement of lost energy in the brain and muscle cells. This makes it a very famous and influential nutritional supplement, especially for athletes who use it for extra support.

Creatine Use

many athletes, including those who play basketball, soccer, rugby, etc. take creatine. Along with supplying energy, it also aids in muscle mass development, enhancing overall performance and strength. Additionally, a lot of research indicates that taking creatine can help prevent neurological disorders.

Creatine is impressive because the human body produces it, albeit in small amounts. Supplementing with creatine can increase the amount in the body, which can have both advantageous and detrimental effects. Before we discuss its disadvantages, let’s first talk about its potential advantages, one of which could be that it results in hair loss.

Benefits of Using Creatine

• Creatine Can Boost Muscle Cell Energy Levels: As previously mentioned, creatine has the ability to boost muscle cell energy. Usually, phosphocreatine stores produce ATP as you work physically; however, the rate is slow. This can alter your performance; however, you have enough to produce energy for more extended periods with creatine.
• Enhances Muscle Mass: In addition to enhancing performance by providing energy, it also modifies muscle mass formation by speeding up the process. Additionally, it lowers myostatin levels, a hormone linked to the loss of muscle mass.
• Great for High-Intensity Exercise: High-performance exercises require strength and a high level of endurance to perform properly. Aside from the fact that creatine helps with providing ATP, it can also improve different areas as you work out. Your power, stamina, recovery, resistance to fatigue, and mental clarity can all be enhanced with creatine. It increases your performance by 15%, according to research.
• Can Improve Parkinson’s Disease: Parkinson’s disease is caused by a decrease in dopamine levels, which results in tremors, speech impairments, loss of muscle function, or worse, brain cell death. After a test on Parkinson’s-affected mice revealed a 90% increase in dopamine levels, numerous studies have discovered that creatine may aid in the treatment of this condition. The findings, however, are not definitive.
• Studies indicate that creatine lowers blood sugar levels and prevents the onset of diabetes by preventing the influx of sugar into the muscles. Thus, there are conflicting results regarding the prevention of diabetes.
• Alleviate Neurological Disease: One of the major causes of neurological defects is a depleted phosphocreatine in the brain. Creatine use increased the percentage from 26% to 72%, according to a study done on mice under control. Ischemic stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and other neurological conditions may be slowed down as a result.
• Enhances Brain Function: In addition to treating neurological conditions, it is excellent for enhancing brain function. Research indicates that a specific amount of ATP is necessary for proper brain function. Dopamine and mitochondrial activity will be more concentrated and active with an improved creatine concentration. This entails enhanced intelligence, memory, and other advantages.
• Additionally, fatigue and the body’s general performance may benefit from creatine.

Possible Side Effects of Creatine

Even though creatine is a natural supplement, having excessive amounts in your body can have certain side effects. Creatine can be taken orally in the recommended doses, but the long-term effects could be harmful.

Some of the side effects usually manifest after five years and can be any of the following;

• Water retention
• Hair loss
• Muscle cramping
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Weight gain
• Gastrointestinal pain
• Dehydration
• Hair loss
• Heat Intolerance

These side effects are also influenced by how well your body functions generally and by any underlying illnesses. Damage to important organs like the kidneys, liver, or heart can result from some of the side effects that are more severe.

What is Dihydrotestosterone (DHT)?

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a hormone formed from testosterone, the male reproductive system’s primary sex hormone. Beyond its role as a sex hormone, testosterone always contributes significantly to the development of muscle mass and body hair. This explains why many men have more hair than women.

DHT is a more potent hormone even though it is produced when testosterone is broken down. Consequently, the majority of the processes that testosterone facilitates can only take place once it has been converted to DHT. However, a lot of people are unaware of how this relates to various stages of male pattern baldness and other types of hair loss.

The Relationship Between Creatine & DHT

The connection between taking creatine and the amount of DHT in the body has been linked to causing hair loss. Creatine speeds up the process by which testosterone is transformed into DHT, which is necessary for testosterone to function properly. The conversion of testosterone to DHT in the body essentially increases when you take these supplements.

The accelerated cycle of each hair follicle is altered by the elevated levels of DHT, which can result in hair loss. As a result, taking creatine over time makes people lose their hair. If taking creatine supplements causes a rise in DHT, it is unclear whether this will have an impact on sexual function.

Regardless of the relationship between high levels of DHT and hair loss, there are different options to manage hair loss effectively. Scalp micropigmentation is a good illustration. Scalp micropigmentation is a non-surgical process explicitly designed to help people who suffer from hair loss. This procedure involves applying a natural pigment directly to the area of the scalp’s dermal layer where hair loss is occurring. Consequently, the image portrays a naturally shaved head with no evidence of hair loss.

Among those who experience hair loss, scalp micropigmentation has gained enormous popularity.

Conclusion

The benefits of creatine supplements include increased muscle mass, enhanced performance, and relief from a variety of neurological conditions. However, because it raises the level of DHT in the body, it may result in hair loss. Although the link between creatine and hair loss isn’t conclusive, it must be medically reviewed before taking any supplements with this component. Plus, be sure to always stick to the prescribed dosage, as a higher or lower amount can cause detrimental effects.

Additionally, make sure to consult your doctor if you experience any side effects from using creatine, such as hair loss. The best treatment for your hair loss will be suggested by your doctor in collaboration with you.

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