Toxin-Free Pans, Creatine, and Alopecia: Debunking Myths from the Kitchen to Your Hair

Hello, I am Dr. Isabel Viña Bas, a physician and Scientific Director of IVB Wellness Lab. This week, I want to resolve two questions that you ask me constantly, both in consultations and on social media: what is going on with the pans you use daily and whether creatine can really make you lose your hair. Let's get to the important part: how to choose a pan that won't interfere with your hormones and why you can take creatine with peace of mind.

What are endocrine disruptors and why should you keep an eye on your pans?

Before talking about pans, we must name the enemy: endocrine disruptors. These are synthetic chemical substances capable of mimicking your natural hormones, fitting into their receptors, and sending signals that shouldn't be there. They are found in pesticides, fire retardants, plastics, and, massively, in the coating of classic non-stick pans, almost always based on perfluorinated compounds (PFAS). That gray coating we love so much because food doesn't stick is, in many cases, the entry point for PFAS into your body.

The triad that triggers the release of toxins: heat, fat, and acid

The pan brings together exactly the three conditions that maximize the transfer of these toxins from the utensil to your plate. Extreme heat destabilizes the material and releases microparticles. Fats, necessary for cooking, dissolve these fat-soluble compounds and carry them directly into your food. And if you add something acidic, like tomato, lemon, or vinegar, the erosion accelerates even further. That is why the pan holds a permanent spot on my priority list for reducing toxins at home, along with not heating food in plastic containers or avoiding thermal receipts.

Is the "PFOA-free" label useful?

Don't trust easy marketing. When PFOA was banned due to its proven toxicity, a large part of the industry replaced it with other perfluorinated compounds from the same family, such as GenX or PFOS, with an equally harmful effect on your metabolic, thyroid, and reproductive health. My recommendation is direct: if the packaging boasts "synthetic non-stick," that pan is not entering your kitchen.

Toxin-free pans: the map of materials you can actually use

The good news is that there are plenty of alternatives for cooking without hormonal residue. Here is my analysis of the materials I do recommend, with their advantages and their fine print.None of them force you to choose between health and convenience in the kitchen.

Mineral iron or carbon steel, the pan that lasts a lifetime

It is a combination of iron with a small percentage of carbon. It has no enamel or Teflon, so it is toxin-free by design, and it also releases minimal traces of iron into food, which is interesting if you have low iron or ferritin reserves. The downside is the weight and maintenance: it is not dishwasher safe and needs seasoning before its first use.

Before using it for the first time, wash it only with hot water, dry it well, add a thin layer of olive oil, and heat it until it smokes. Remove the excess with a paper towel and let it cool; this forms a natural non-stick film. In your day-to-day, wash it with hot water, without metal scrubbers, dry it immediately so it doesn't rust, and finish with a drop of oil before storing it.That two-minute ritual is what keeps it indestructible for years.

Enameled cast iron, my favorite pan for daily use

It combines the best of iron (spectacular heat distribution and zero toxins) with a layer of vitrified ceramic enamel that acts as a protective barrier. It doesn't need seasoning, it doesn't rust, and you can put it in the dishwasher without fear. Its only drawback is the price.For me, it is the most practical option of the three, without any pretense.

What do the numbers 18/10 or 18/0 on your stainless steel pan mean?

Stainless steel is clean and hygienic, but it is worth checking its "last name." Those numbers engraved on the back (18/10, 18/8, or 18/0) indicate the proportion of chromium and nickel in the alloy. Chromium, at 18%, prevents corrosion; nickel provides resistance to acids and high temperatures. If you have multiple chemical sensitivity or a nickel allergy, avoid the 18/10 and 18/8 versions and look for an 18/0 pan, which is nickel-free, or a titanium steel one.That detail, which almost no one looks at, may be exactly what you need if you have reactive skin.

The marble trick so nothing sticks

Many people hate stainless steel because eggs stick to it, and it is almost always because they cook on a cold surface. Place the empty pan over medium heat, wait about three minutes, and splash a few drops of water with your fingers. If they evaporate instantly, it is still cold. If, on the other hand, they form little balls that skate across the surface (the Leidenfrost effect), it is the exact moment to add the oil and the food. With that level of heat, absolutely nothing will stick, even in a pan without Teflon.

Changing the subject, from the kitchen to the scalp. If there is one ingredient that carries rumors in the gym, it is creatine, one of the most studied performance food supplements that exist, and also one of the ones that causes the most fear for no reason.That fear has a name: baldness.

Does creatine cause baldness or hair loss?

The fear of going bald is, by far, what holds women and men back the most when it comes to taking creatine. And the short answer is no.Creatine does not cause baldness or accelerate hair loss, and science backs this up quite strongly.

Where the myth comes from: the 2009 study that should never have gone viral

Everything is based on a single 2009 study with a small group of rugby players in South Africa who took very high loading doses, 25 grams per day. It was observed that their DHT levels rose by 56% in the blood, and that set off the alarm. The problem is that this study never measured the actual baldness of the subjects, did not evaluate free testosterone, started from baseline DHT values that were already disparate among the participants, and has never been able to be replicated. You can delve deeper into the real benefits of creatine beyond the myth. Since then, more than 600 clinical trials have tried to repeat the finding, and none have found either an increase in DHT or hair loss. A placebo-controlled trial from April 2025, by Lak and his team, went even further: it analyzed the scalp of athletes with direct trichoscopy at the follicular level and found no differences in hair density, miniaturization, or loss between those who took creatine and those who took a placebo.A single poorly designed study, published in 2009, remains the source of almost all the fear that exists today around creatine.

Creatinine and the kidney: why you shouldn't be scared by your blood test

The other classic concern is the blood test. When taking creatine, creatinine, a waste product of muscle metabolism, can appear slightly elevated, and there are quite a few primary care physicians who get scared and ask you to stop taking it immediately. It is a fairly common error of interpretation. Think of creatinine as household trash: if you put in more creatine, there is more metabolic activity and more trash is generated, but that does not mean that the kidney, the garbage collector, is broken; it just has more work to do. If you have doubts, ask for a cystatin C test, which is not altered by creatine or meat consumption, or stop taking creatine two weeks before the blood test to see how the values return to normal.High creatinine from taking creatine is not synonymous with kidney damage; it is basic metabolism math.

Creavitalis®, the creatine we formulate at IVB Wellness Lab

At IVB, we formulate our creatine exclusively with the Creavitalis® patent, micronized and ultra-filtered creatine monohydrate, with 99.9% purity and a particle size designed for impeccable absorption and digestive tolerance, without the diarrhea or water retention caused by cheap gym products.It is the formula I recommend myself when someone asks me which one to take.

Take care of your pan material to protect your hormonal balance and take your creatine without fear, knowing that science backs its safety for both your hair and your kidneys.

Author: Dr. Isabel Viña Bas 

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