Does creatine cause acne? What the evidence really says

There is no good evidence that creatine causes acne. No study has tested acne as an outcome, and the idea rests mainly on one small 2009 study that found a rise in the hormone DHT, a result later research has not repeated. If you break out after starting a supplement, other ingredients or a contaminated product are more likely causes than plain creatine monohydrate.

By Creatine Today · Editorial policy

Does creatine cause acne?

The evidence does not show that it does. We could not find any clinical trial that measured acne as an outcome in people taking creatine. The large safety reviews of creatine do not list acne as a known side effect. When people link creatine and acne, they usually point to a possible effect on hormones, not to studies of skin.

The honest summary is that the question has not been directly studied, and the indirect evidence has weakened over time. That is different from proof that creatine can never affect anyone's skin, but there is no clear reason to expect it to.

Where does the creatine and DHT idea come from?

Acne is linked with androgens, the group of hormones that includes testosterone and DHT (dihydrotestosterone). These hormones help drive oil production in the skin. So if creatine raised DHT, it would be reasonable to ask whether it could worsen acne.

The concern traces back to one study from 2009. Twenty college rugby players took creatine (25 g a day for 7 days, then 5 g a day for 14 days) or placebo. In the creatine group, DHT rose about 56% after loading and stayed about 40% above baseline during maintenance. The study did not look at skin, oil, or acne. It is the same study behind the creatine and hair loss concern.

What do newer studies show about creatine and DHT?

Later research has not repeated the 2009 finding. A 2021 review by the International Society of Sports Nutrition concluded that the evidence does not show creatine increasing total testosterone, free testosterone, or DHT.

In 2025, a 12-week randomized controlled trial gave 5 g of creatine monohydrate or placebo a day to resistance-trained men. There was no difference between groups in DHT or in the DHT-to-testosterone ratio. The researchers reported no side effects in either group. This trial was designed to study hair, not skin, so it does not prove anything about acne directly. But it removes much of the reason to suspect a hormone-driven effect at normal doses.

Which supplements are more often linked to acne?

A 2020 review of acne related to dietary supplements named several types with stronger links than creatine:

• High-dose vitamin B6 and B12 supplements.
• Iodine, including kelp supplements.
• Whey protein, with reports of acne on the chest and back in people using it for bodybuilding.
• "Muscle-building" products contaminated with anabolic steroids, which can cause severe acne.

The review noted that supplement-related acne usually improves after the product is stopped. The evidence on whey is mixed. A 6-month randomized trial in 2024 in men who already had acne found that 30 g of whey a day did not worsen acne compared with a non-whey supplement. Still, if you started creatine together with a protein powder, a multivitamin, or a pre-workout, any of those could be involved.

Contamination matters too. Some supplements contain substances that are not on the label. Choosing plain creatine monohydrate from a brand with third-party testing reduces that risk. Our guide to creatine, steroids, and drug tests covers this in more detail.

Does creatine affect your skin in other ways?

We found no good evidence that oral creatine tightens, firms, or dries out the skin. Claims like these usually come from marketing or from studies of creams applied to the skin, which are a different product from creatine powder. Starting a new training routine can bring its own skin changes, such as more sweat and friction from gear on the chest, back, and shoulders. These are worth considering before blaming the supplement.

What to do if you break out after starting creatine

• Check everything you started. Write down every new supplement, food, and skin product, and when each began.
• Simplify. Use plain creatine monohydrate with no added ingredients, at the usual 3–5 g a day.
• Give it time. Acne often comes and goes on its own. A short break from creatine is harmless if you want to see whether it makes a difference.
• See a dermatologist if acne is painful, leaves marks, or does not improve. Keep using any treatment you have been prescribed unless your doctor tells you otherwise.