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Skin & pigment

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Copper tripeptide

GHK-Cu

Also known as: Copper Tripeptide-1, Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper, Cu-GHK

Strong topical evidence in skin and wound healing. Injectable systemic claims are an entirely different evidence base and tier.

Reviewed 2026-04-30

What it does

GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring tripeptide (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine) that binds copper(II) with high affinity. Endogenous plasma levels decline with age. Topical formulations have been studied in cosmetic dermatology and wound healing for decades, with multiple human clinical trials supporting efficacy in skin elasticity, wound closure, and dermal repair markers. Injectable systemic GHK-Cu is a separate proposition: there are essentially no published human RCTs for systemic outcomes, and pharmacokinetics of injected GHK-Cu in humans are not well characterized.

Used for

Dose

Starting
1,000 mcg · 1× daily
Common
3,000 mcg · 1× daily
Upper
5,000 mcg · 1× daily
When
FlexibleNo strong time-of-day signal in the literature. Topical (face/scalp) fits the user's morning or evening skincare routine. Some users report improved sleep on evening injectable doses, possibly via cytokine-modulation.
How long
3 months on / 1 month off
Site
subcutaneous (research only)
Food
any

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⚠ Caution

  • Wilson's disease and other copper metabolism disorders
  • Known sensitivity to copper
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding (limited safety data for systemic use)
  • Active malignancy (theoretical: GHK-Cu modulates angiogenesis pathways)

Will it work for me?

Establish a baseline (2–3 readings over 1–2 weeks before starting), then track at consistent intervals.

Imaging
  • Tier 2 — Human observationalCutometer skin elasticity↑· 8–12 weeksMeasured at derm/cosmetic clinics; VisiaSkin analysis if available.
Functional & psychometric
  • Tier 3 — Animal / in vitroStandardized photography (fixed lighting + angle)· 8–12 weeksQualitative at-home tracker — same lighting, angle, and time of day.
  • Tier 3 — Animal / in vitroHair density via standardized scalp photography↑· 8–12 weeksFor the hair-growth claim specifically.

Often stacked with

  • BPC-157 — BPC-157 drives VEGF-mediated angiogenesis at injury sites while GHK-Cu remodels extracellular matrix and suppresses inflammation — complementary tissue-repair arms.
  • KPV — GHK-Cu remodels collagen/ECM and modulates antioxidant gene expression; KPV suppresses NF-κB/TNF-α via PepT1 — complementary anti-inflammatory and tissue-repair mechanisms without receptor overlap.
  • TB-500 — GHK-Cu promotes ECM remodeling and angiogenic gene expression; TB-500 mobilizes stem cells and drives actin-dependent cell migration — complementary phases of wound-healing cascade.
  • Epithalon — Epithalon is hypothesised to activate telomerase and restore epigenetic gene expression; GHK-Cu modulates ECM gene expression and antioxidant defenses — complementary longevity-adjacent mechanisms requiring separate courses.

Your stack

Track this peptide in your protocol — dose, schedule, vials on hand, refill projection. Stays in your browser; no account needed.

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Use this peptide

Featured in protocols
Cycling

3 months on, 1 month off.

Ongoing maintenance is acceptable — decades of safety data and no known tolerance development; cycle breaks are for scheduling/cost, not physiological necessity.

Related peptides

Part of these blends

Co-injection & overlap

Can share a syringe with: BPC-157, KPV, TB-500

Inject separately (do not co-mix): Epithalon

Reconstitution & storage
VialBAC waterConcentrationShelf life
50 mg3 mL1.6 mg per 10 units6 weeks
100 mg6 mL1.6 mg per 10 units12 weeks

GHK-Cu is light- and air-sensitive — handle quickly and store away from light. The reconstituted solution is pale blue from the bound copper; that color is expected, not contamination. Topical formulations should be obtained from cosmetic-grade suppliers, not reconstituted from injectable lyophilizate.

Storage. Lyophilized: refrigerate 2–8 °C, protect from light. Reconstituted: refrigerate, use within 30 days, protect from light.

Open the peptide calculator →

Nasal delivery

Not suitable for nasal delivery. SQ only when targeting systemic/deep-tissue effect; nasal route is not established for the skin/aesthetic indications it is used for.

Monitoring & questions

Reported side effects
  • Topical: mild irritation, transient erythema
  • Injectable: injection site reactions, headache, possible metallic taste reported anecdotally
  • Theoretical risk of copper accumulation with chronic high-dose systemic use
Biomarkers Juno tracks
FAQ (4)

Reference

How it works

Copper-binding tripeptide that modulates inflammation, gene expression involved in extracellular matrix remodeling, and antioxidant defenses in dermal cells. Pickart and colleagues have characterized broad transcriptomic effects in vitro. Whether these in-vitro effects translate to systemic outcomes via injection is undemonstrated.

EvidenceTier 2 — Human observational

Tiers are per indication. The same molecule can be Tier 1 for one use and Tier 4 for another — the tier reflects published literature, not community framing.

Topical skin aging / wound healing

Tier 2high confidence

Multiple human studies of topical GHK-Cu formulations show measurable improvements in skin elasticity, wound closure rate, and dermal markers. Studies are generally small (n<50) and often industry-funded, preventing Tier 1.

Pickart L et al. 2018Finkley MB et al. 2005

Hair growth (topical)

Tier 3medium confidence

Some small topical hair-growth studies exist, mostly from dermatology or cosmetic research with weak controls. Independent replication is limited.

No primary citations are anchored to this indication — the tier reflects the absence of usable literature, not a missing reference.

Injectable systemic effects (longevity, mitochondrial, hair, immune)

Tier 3high confidence

No published human RCTs of injectable GHK-Cu for systemic outcomes. Animal studies suggest tissue-protective effects. Bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of injected GHK-Cu in humans are not well characterized.

Pickart L et al. 2018
Citations (2)
  1. [1]
    The Human Tripeptide GHK-Cu in Prevention of Oxidative Stress and Degenerative Conditions of Aging: Relevance to Cosmetic Dermatology and the Cellular Mechanisms
    Pickart L, Margolina A · Biomolecules · 2018 · PMID 29455509
    Comprehensive mechanism and dermatology review used as a Tier 2 anchor.
    View source
  2. [2]
    Copper peptide and skin
    Finkley MB, Appa Y, Bhandarkar S · Cosmeceuticals (book chapter) · 2005 · PMID 16030655
    Topical clinical evidence reference for Tier 2 dermatologic claims.
    View source