GHK-Cu
| Category | Other Peptides |
| Goals | Skin & Hair · Joint & Tendon Repair |
| Evidence level | Preclinical for systemic claims; cosmetic/dermatology data for topical skin use |
| Legal status | Research-only as an injectable; widely used in topical cosmetics |
| FDA status | Not approved as a drug; permitted as a cosmetic ingredient (topical) |
| Half-life | Not well established; short (small tripeptide) |
| Routes | Topical · Subcutaneous |
| CAS / MW / Sequence | 49557-75-7 (GHK) / 89030-95-5 (Cu) · 340.4 g/mol (GHK) · GHK (Gly-His-Lys) |
| Last reviewed | 2026-06-07 |
In one line
A naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide (glycine-histidine-lysine) that delivers copper to cells; widely used in topical skincare and studied for skin remodeling, wound healing, and hair.
Evidence at a glance
GHK-Cu is unusual on this wiki: it has real (if small) human cosmetic/dermatology studies for topical anti-aging, plus robust animal wound-healing data. Evidence for injectable/systemic use (joints, hair via injection) is preclinical or anecdotal. See Evidence Grading Explained and the Disclaimer.
Key Takeaways
- A naturally occurring tripeptide (Gly-His-Lys) found in human plasma; levels decline with age (~200 ng/mL at 20 → ~80 ng/mL at 60).
- Forms a copper(II) complex (GHK-Cu) that delivers copper into cells — central to its proposed activity.
- Best-supported use is topical skin: stimulates collagen/glycosaminoglycan synthesis; small controlled facial studies show anti-wrinkle/firming effects.
- Strong animal wound-healing data; systemic/injectable claims are far less validated.
- Not approved as a drug, but permitted and widely used as a cosmetic ingredient. Appears in the GLOW / KLOW blends.
What Is It
GHK is a tripeptide (glycine-histidine-lysine) that occurs naturally in human plasma, saliva, and urine. It has a high affinity for copper(II), forming the complex GHK-Cu (“copper peptide” / copper tripeptide-1). The histidine and glycine residues coordinate the copper ion, and this complex is thought to be the biologically active form, shuttling copper to cells. Because plasma GHK declines with age, it is studied as a regenerative and anti-aging signal, and it is one of the most established cosmetic peptide ingredients on the market.
Mechanism of Action
Mechanisms draw on cell, animal, and some human (topical) data:
- Copper delivery (in-vitro) — supplies copper as a cofactor for enzymes involved in tissue remodeling and antioxidant defense.
- Collagen / ECM synthesis (cell/topical) — stimulates collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycan production in dermal fibroblasts.
- Tissue remodeling (cell) — modulates matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors, helping clear damaged ECM.
- Growth-factor & angiogenesis signaling (animal/in-vitro) — promotes release of factors such as VEGF and supports blood-vessel growth and wound closure.
- Anti-inflammatory / antioxidant (animal/in-vitro) — reduces oxidative and inflammatory markers.
- Gene modulation (in-vitro) — reported to shift expression of a large number of human genes toward a “younger” profile.
Limitations
Human evidence is strongest for topical cosmetic outcomes and is limited by small sample sizes and short durations. Systemic/injectable human data is not well established.
Evidence by Outcome
| Outcome | Evidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Topical skin anti-aging (wrinkles, firmness) | Clinical (small) | Several small controlled facial studies; short duration |
| Wound healing | Preclinical | Robust animal data (e.g. faster wound closure vs. control) |
| Collagen / skin remodeling | Preclinical / Clinical (topical) | Strong cell data; supportive small human topical studies |
| Hair growth | Preclinical / Anecdotal | Some follicle/animal signals; limited human evidence |
| Joint / tendon repair (systemic) | Preclinical / Anecdotal | Extrapolated; no controlled human injectable trials |
Reported Dosing
Not medical advice
Topical cosmetic use is common and product-directed. Injectable protocols below are as reported in community sources; there is no established human therapeutic injectable dose. See Reconstitution & Dosing Math.
| Route | Dose (reported) | Frequency | Cycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topical (serum/cream) | ~0.05–2% formulations | 1–2× daily | Ongoing (cosmetic) |
| Subcutaneous | ~1–2 mg/day | 1× daily | ~4–8 weeks |
| Subcutaneous (microdose, skin) | ~0.5–1 mg/day | 1× daily | Variable |
Pharmacokinetics
As a small tripeptide, GHK is expected to have a short half-life; detailed human PK is not well established. Topically, the copper complex influences skin penetration and is the form used in cosmetics. Injectable PK is essentially uncharacterized. See Half-Life & Pharmacokinetics.
Side Effects & Risks
- Topical use is generally well tolerated; possible mild irritation, redness, or contact sensitivity in some users.
- Injectable human safety data is limited — tolerability is inferred, not established for chronic use.
- Copper load: repeated/high systemic dosing raises a theoretical concern about copper accumulation; not well studied in humans.
- Sourcing risk: as a research chemical (injectable form), identity/purity vary — see Sourcing and Red Flags & Scams.
- See Side Effects & Risk Management.
Cycling
Topical use is typically ongoing. Anecdotal injectable protocols run 4–8 weeks then break, partly to limit copper exposure. No evidence-based cycling standard exists. See Cycling.
Stacks It Appears In
Comparisons
- vs KPV — both appear in skin blends; GHK-Cu drives collagen/remodeling, KPV drives anti-inflammatory signaling. Often combined.
- vs BPC-157 — BPC-157 is a soft-tissue/gut repair peptide; GHK-Cu is a skin/remodeling and copper-delivery peptide with real topical cosmetic data.
Sourcing & Quality
Topical cosmetic GHK-Cu is a regulated ingredient; injectable GHK-Cu is sold as a “research chemical” with no guarantee of identity or purity. Verify before trusting an injectable product: How to Read a CoA, HPLC vs Mass Spec, Third-Party Testing, Red Flags & Scams. Reconstitution and storage: Reconstitution & Dosing Math, Storage & Handling. No vendors are endorsed here.
Legal & Regulatory Status
(As of 2026-06-05.) GHK-Cu is not FDA-approved as a drug, but it is a long-standing, permitted cosmetic ingredient (copper tripeptide-1) used in topical skincare worldwide. Injectable/systemic use is unapproved and sold as a research chemical. Status varies by country. See Regulatory & Legal Status.
FAQ
Is GHK-Cu FDA-approved? Not as a drug. It is permitted and widely used as a cosmetic (topical) ingredient; injectable use is unapproved.
Does GHK-Cu actually work? For topical skin outcomes there is supportive (small) human evidence and strong cell/animal data. Systemic/injectable claims are far less validated.
Topical or injection? Topical is the established, evidence-backed route for skin. Subcutaneous injection is used anecdotally for broader/systemic goals.
Is the copper a concern? Topically, no major concern at cosmetic levels. Repeated systemic dosing raises a theoretical copper-accumulation question that is not well studied.
What is it usually stacked with? Skin/healing blends GLOW and KLOW (with BPC-157, TB-500, and KPV).
References
- Pickart L., Margolina A. (2018). “Regenerative and protective actions of the GHK-Cu peptide in the light of the new gene data.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences.
- Pickart L. (2008). “The human tri-peptide GHK and tissue remodeling.” Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition.
- Maquart F.X. et al. (1988). “Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu²⁺.” FEBS Letters.
- Copper peptide GHK-Cu — Wikipedia (CAS 49557-75-7 / 89030-95-5; small controlled facial studies; animal wound-healing data).
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