Does creatine cause acne? The Evidence

Q: Does creatine cause acne?

Probably not directly. Creatine is one of the most studied supplements in sport, and there is no solid evidence that it directly causes acne. The theory people worry about is that creatine may slightly raise DHT (a potent androgen) — one small study in rugby players found a rise — and androgens can drive oil production an

Creatine is one of the most studied supplements in sport, and there is no solid evidence that it directly causes acne. The theory people worry about is that creatine may slightly raise DHT (a potent androgen) — one small study in rugby players found a rise — and androgens can drive oil production and breakouts. But that single finding hasn't been clearly replicated, and most users never notice a skin change.

Where creatine does get blamed unfairly is the company it keeps: heavy training, sweaty skin left unwashed, and whey protein taken alongside it. Those factors are far more likely culprits than the creatine molecule itself.

What you can do

Shower and cleanse soon after training, before sweat dries on the skin.
If you also use whey protein, trial cutting it for 4–6 weeks to see if your skin changes.
Keep the rest of your routine non-comedogenic — paste your products into our checker.

Vet your skincare too

Diet is only one piece. Many breakouts are driven by what you put on your skin. Paste your products into our comedogenic ingredient checker to rule out pore-clogging ingredients, and check for fungal-acne triggers if your bumps are small and itchy.