Does Creatine Cause Acne? What the Research Shows (and Doesn't)

No study has shown that creatine causes acne, and no trial has measured acne in people taking it. The worry traces back to one small 2009 study in which a hormone called DHT rose in rugby players during a creatine loading phase. That result has not been replicated, and a 2025 randomized trial found no DHT change at all. If your skin changed after you started creatine, the likelier suspects are the things that changed with it: more sweat, sweaty gear, a new protein shake, a new way of eating.

Before you ditch a supplement that does real work in training (here is what creatine monohydrate does), it helps to know what the research on creatine and skin actually measured.

Does creatine cause acne?

Not according to any published study. Searches of PubMed and Europe PMC in October 2026 found no creatine trial or cohort that counted acne as an outcome; the creatine studies that touch this topic measured hormones and hair.

The broader safety research doesn't point to skin either. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements reports no consistent set of side effects from creatine except weight gain from water retention. Its list of anecdotal reactions (nausea, diarrhea and other stomach upset, muscle cramps, heat intolerance, muscle stiffness) does not include acne or any skin change.

So why does the question keep coming up? Partly timing: people often start creatine just as they start training harder, so it takes the blame for whatever happens next. And partly a tidy chain that circulates online: creatine raises DHT, DHT drives oil, oil drives acne. Each link deserves a look.

Where the creatine-acne idea comes from

The chain starts with hormones. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is an androgen hormone that the body makes from testosterone, as a 2021 expert review in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition explains. Androgens matter for skin: the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) notes that during puberty, androgens increase the size of the skin's oil glands, which then make more oil that can clog pores. Clogged pores are where acne starts.

The creatine part of the chain comes from a single study. In 2009, van der Merwe and colleagues gave 20 college rugby players in South Africa creatine or a glucose placebo (16 completed the study) in a double-blind crossover design: 25 g of creatine a day for 7 days (a loading phase), then 5 g a day for 14 days. Testosterone did not change. DHT rose 56% after the loading week and was still 40% above baseline after the maintenance weeks, and the DHT-to-testosterone ratio rose 36%, then stayed 22% higher.

That is a measurable hormone shift, but it is not acne. The researchers measured blood hormones and body composition, not skin, so nobody counted a single pimple. The same 2021 review adds context: DHT and the DHT-to-testosterone ratio stayed well within normal clinical limits, and the creatine group started the study with DHT 23% lower than the placebo group. The 25 g/day protocol is also far more than a standard daily scoop; our guide to the creatine loading phase covers whether you need one at all. Even granting the DHT bump, the chain has a missing link: no study has shown it led to more breakouts.

What newer research found about creatine and DHT

Newer, longer research has not repeated the DHT result. In a 2025 randomized controlled trial, 45 resistance-trained men aged 18 to 40 took either 5 g of creatine monohydrate or 5 g of maltodextrin (a placebo) every day for 12 weeks, and 38 finished. There were no group-by-time differences in total testosterone, free testosterone, DHT, the DHT-to-testosterone ratio or any hair measure.

The wider literature points the same way. The 2021 review notes that the 2009 DHT finding has not been replicated and that intense resistance exercise can itself raise androgen levels. It counts 12 other studies of creatine and testosterone (3 to 25 g a day, for 6 days to 12 weeks): 10 found no change, and 2 found small, physiologically insignificant rises. Its conclusion is that the evidence does not indicate creatine increases total testosterone, free testosterone or DHT.

Both trials studied men and measured hormones and hair, not skin. What they do knock out is the premise: the "creatine spikes DHT" claim rests on one result that later work has not reproduced.

What studies measured vs what people assume

Evidence	Who and how much	What it measured	Result	Acne measured?
van der Merwe 2009	20 male college rugby players enrolled, 16 completed; 25 g/day for 7 days, then 5 g/day for 14 days	Blood testosterone and DHT	DHT +56% after loading, +40% after maintenance; testosterone unchanged	No
Lak 2025 (randomized trial)	45 trained men randomized, 38 finished; 5 g/day for 12 weeks vs placebo	Testosterone, free testosterone, DHT, hair	No differences from placebo	No
Antonio 2021 (review)	12 other creatine studies; 3–25 g/day for 6 days to 12 weeks	Testosterone	10 no change; 2 small, physiologically insignificant rises	Not discussed
The assumption: "creatine causes acne"	Creatine users	Acne as an outcome	No published study found (PubMed and Europe PMC, October 2026)	Not yet

What else could be behind breakouts after starting creatine?

Often, something that started at the same time. Creatine tends to arrive with a new training plan, more sweat, a protein shake and more food. Here is the evidence on each.

Other supplements in the same routine

Whey protein is the gym supplement with actual acne research, and the results are mixed. In a 6-month double-blind randomized trial in Thailand, 49 young men with mild to moderate facial or truncal acne took either 30 g of whey a day (plus a non-whey supplement) or a non-whey supplement alone. The whey group's acne fared no worse: whey was noninferior for both facial and truncal lesion counts.

A 2024 case-control study of 201 teenage and young-adult male gym-goers in Jordan found the opposite signal. Of the 100 participants with acne, 47% had used whey supplements in the previous three months, compared with 27.7% of the 101 without acne, and the gap held after adjusting for other factors. That design shows an association, not a cause. Put the two studies together and whey is a suspect worth checking, not a proven culprit.

Hormone-type products deserve a look too. NIH's Office of Dietary Supplements notes that DHEA, a steroid hormone sold as a supplement, can raise testosterone in women when taken for months, which can cause acne and facial hair growth. The practical move: list every product you started around the same time as creatine, and read every label.

Sweat, gear and training habits

Training itself is a well-known skin trigger. The AAD says working out can cause excessive sweating and a buildup of oil, dirt and bacteria on your skin, all of which can lead to acne. You don't have to train less. Dermatologists' advice is about hygiene:

• Start in clean workout clothes, washed since you last wore them.
• Pat sweat off with a clean towel rather than rubbing, which can make acne flare.
• Avoid sharing helmets and pads, and wipe down shared equipment before you use it.
• Shower soon after training, using a mild, oil-free cleanser.

When breakouts show up where gear or clothing rubs, there is a name for it: acne mechanica. The AAD describes it as acne that develops when equipment or clothing traps heat and sweat on the skin and rubs against it, and its list of culprits includes the plastic on weightlifting benches and weightlifting belts. Its fixes: moisture-wicking fabric next to the skin, loose-fitting clothes instead of tight ones, and clean, soft padding between gear and skin. If the spots line up with where the bench touches your back, the bench is a stronger suspect than the scoop.

Other changes at the same time

A new training block can change a lot at once: more calories, more milk and shakes, less sleep, a new body wash. The AAD's acne-causes guide lists too little sleep, certain foods and oily skin-care and hair products among things that can make acne worse, and its diet guide notes that some studies link cow's milk and foods that spike blood sugar quickly, such as white bread and fries, to more breakouts.

None of that convicts your new routine either. Creatine is simply one suspect among several, and the fair way to sort them out is to change one thing at a time.

What to do if you break out after starting creatine

Run your routine like an experiment with one variable at a time.

1. Lock in the workout skin habits above: clean clothes, pat (don't rub), wiped-down equipment, a shower soon after training.
2. Change one other thing at a time, starting with the ones the evidence points to: a new shake or supplement, new skin or hair products, then gear and clothing. Give each change a few weeks while you note what your skin does.
3. Keep your creatine routine steady while you test the other changes, so you are only changing one thing. Our guide to how much creatine per day covers the standard daily amount.
4. Don't stop a prescribed medicine on your own. Some medicines can trigger breakouts (Mayo Clinic lists drugs containing corticosteroids, testosterone or lithium), so raise any skin change with the prescriber instead.
5. See a board-certified dermatologist if your acne is painful, leaving scars or not settling. Acne care is well researched: the AAD's 2024 guideline, built on a systematic review, makes 18 evidence-based recommendations, and a dermatologist can match them to your skin.

Quick answers

Will creatine affect my face?

Not with acne, as far as any study shows. The side effect that does show up consistently is weight gain: NIH's Office of Dietary Supplements notes creatine often adds weight because it increases water retention (and possibly muscle protein synthesis), with studies reporting a 1 to 2 kg (about 2 to 4 lb) gain in a month when it is paired with strength training. No study has measured facial appearance, so "creatine face" is an internet theory the research has never tested.

Is creatine good for your skin?

No study shows that taking creatine improves skin, so skin is not a reason to buy it. Creatine does turn up in some face creams, and a skincare company has tested creams that combine creatine with other ingredients, but that is a product applied to the skin, not a scoop you swallow. If a label promises a creatine glow, that is marketing, not research. Take creatine for what trials support, according to NIH's Office of Dietary Supplements: high-intensity, intermittent effort in training.

What supplements may worsen acne?

Whey protein is the most-studied gym supplement for acne, with mixed results: a randomized trial found no worsening over six months, while an observational study found more whey use among gym-goers with acne. Hormone-type products such as DHEA can raise testosterone in women, which can cause acne. Review the label and start date of anything new in your routine.

Who should avoid taking creatine?

Check with a clinician before starting creatine if you have kidney disease or abnormal kidney tests, take medicines that affect kidney function, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are under 18. Our guide to creatine side effects and safety covers who should be cautious and why, and creatine and your kidneys explains the lab-test questions.

The practical takeaway

• No study has shown that creatine causes acne. The DHT worry rests on one small 2009 study that has not been replicated, and a 2025 trial found no DHT change.
• Sweat, gear, a new protein shake and diet changes are likelier suspects. Change one thing at a time to find yours.
• The AAD's workout habits are worth keeping whatever the cause turns out to be.

Keeping creatine in your routine? Infinite Labs Creatine Monohydrate is a strong pick for consistent daily use alongside training: 5 g of creatine monohydrate per scoop, with silicon dioxide as a flow aid, in an unflavored powder that fits your preferred mixing routine. Each container holds 60 servings. No proprietary blend, no pixie dust. Note that the label states this product contains wheat. Certificates of analysis are available on request.

Sources

• van der Merwe J, Brooks NE, Myburgh KH. Three weeks of creatine monohydrate supplementation affects dihydrotestosterone to testosterone ratio in college-aged rugby players. Clin J Sport Med. 2009.
• Lak M, Forbes SC, et al. Does creatine cause hair loss? A 12-week randomized controlled trial. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2025.
• Antonio J et al. Common questions and misconceptions about creatine supplementation: what does the scientific evidence really show? J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2021.
• NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary Supplements for Exercise and Athletic Performance, health professional fact sheet.
• American Academy of Dermatology. Acne: Who gets and causes.
• American Academy of Dermatology. Is your workout causing your acne?
• American Academy of Dermatology. Is sports equipment causing your acne?
• American Academy of Dermatology. Can the right diet get rid of acne?
• Sompochpruetikul K et al. Whey protein and male acne: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial. J Dermatol. 2024.
• Muhaidat J et al. The effect of whey protein supplements on acne vulgaris among male adolescents and young adults: a case-control study from north of Jordan. Dermatol Res Pract. 2024.
• Reynolds RV et al. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2024.
• Mayo Clinic. Acne: Symptoms and causes.
• Peirano RI et al. Dermal penetration of creatine from a face-care formulation containing creatine, guarana and glycerol is linked to effective antiwrinkle and antisagging efficacy in male subjects. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2011.

This article is educational and is not medical advice. Infinite Labs Creatine Monohydrate is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.