Do Creatine Supplements Cause Acne?
Creatine is an acid that occurs naturally in all vertebrates which helps supply energy to muscles and nerve cells.
It is very common for athletes to take store-bought creatine supplements before a workout in an attempt to give their
muscles more energy and achieve better “gains.” While there are common side effects to creatine that a majority of its users
will experience if they are not careful (dehydration and/or increased bowel movements), many users have claimed that creatine
supplements cause acne breakouts.
While several studies have been done about the athletic and possible muscle building effects of creatine, very few, if any, studies have
been done on the relationship between creatine and acne. Studies have shown that using creatine for a long period of time can cause blood
pressure to rise, but whether or not creatine actually causes acne is still up in the air. Since creatine is known to cause dehydration,
it could easily lead to your skin becoming more dry, which means you are more susceptible to acne developing. Some users may experience
acne breakouts starting as early as a week after starting creatine supplements, while others may never have a problem with acne developing. If you are suffering from acne or just starting to develop blemishes, use an acne kit to help soothe your skin and an oily skin moisturizer to help prevent clogged pores from sweating. Since a lot of creatine users are still in the late teens and twenties, it could merely be a result of genetics and/or other factors.