GHK-Cu
Copper tripeptide-1
A naturally occurring tripeptide that binds copper and appears in wound-healing and skin-remodelling research. It has been used in topical cosmetics for decades and is increasingly discussed for injectable use.
- Category
- Skin & Aesthetics
- Half-life
- Short in plasma; copper-bound activity persists considerably longer
- Cycle length
- 4–8 weeks for reported injectable protocols
- Level
- beginner
Overview
GHK-Cu is a short tripeptide with a high affinity for copper ions. Blood plasma levels of GHK decline substantially with age, which is the observation that drove interest in it. It has a genuinely long history in topical cosmetic formulations, and a shorter, more speculative history as an injectable in the biohacking community.
How it works
GHK-Cu acts as a copper carrier, delivering copper into cells where it acts as a cofactor for enzymes involved in collagen synthesis and antioxidant defence. It has been shown to influence the expression of a large number of genes related to tissue remodelling, and to stimulate collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycan production in fibroblast cultures.
Reported benefits
- Stimulation of collagen and elastin synthesis in vitro
- Improved wound closure in preclinical models
- Reported improvement in skin thickness, tone and elasticity with topical use
- Anti-inflammatory activity in tissue models
- Hair-follicle stimulation reported in small studies
Reported benefits describe what the published literature and user reports suggest — not a promise of outcome for any individual.
Dosing reference
Topical use follows manufacturer guidance on cosmetic products. Reported injectable protocols are far more varied, typically 1–2 mg per day subcutaneously for four to eight weeks, with some protocols using lower doses over longer periods.
The evidence base is strongest for topical application — this is the route that decades of cosmetic research actually studied. Injectable dosing figures circulate widely online but the corresponding human data is thin.
Community-reported: topical 1–2% solutions applied once or twice daily, or roughly 100–200 mcg injected into the scalp in hair-loss accounts. The injected route has no safety data and reports of site irritation are common.
These figures are what people report using in public communities. They have not been studied, verified or checked against certificates of analysis, and they are not a recommendation, a prescription or a target to aim for.
Where the reported amounts come from
Amounts are reproduced for education only. Doses from trials cannot be assumed to suit anyone else, and community-reported amounts are frequently wrong. Self-administering unapproved compounds carries serious risk.
The research picture
In vitro work is consistent and striking: GHK-Cu influences a broad gene-expression profile associated with tissue remodelling, and stimulates collagen in fibroblast culture. Human evidence is mostly small cosmetic trials of topical products reporting improvements in skin appearance. Injectable human data is minimal. This is a compound where the topical route has real evidence and the injectable route has extrapolation.
Primary sources
Preclinical & non-clinical data
A copper-binding tripeptide studied for wound healing, collagen synthesis, new blood-vessel formation and anti-inflammatory effects in cell and animal models. Cosmetic and wound-care products containing it are already on the market, which is unusual for this index.
Non-clinical data comes from cells and animals unless stated otherwise. It answers whether a compound is worth studying in people — not whether it is safe or effective in them.
What users report
Skin is the focus, and unlike most compounds here users can actually see the thing they are reporting on: faster healing of blemishes and cuts, reduced redness, and over several months reports of firmer-looking skin and, in some accounts, thicker hair along the hairline. Irritation, stinging and occasional breakouts are the common complaints, usually tied to concentration. The honesty level in these accounts is relatively high, because people compare against the rest of their skincare routine rather than against a promise.
Where these reports come from
These are unverified personal accounts collected from public sources. They are not evidence of effectiveness or safety, they have not been independently checked, and they are not a recommendation to use anything described.
Possible side effects
- Topical irritation at higher concentrations
- Injection-site reactions
- Reported skin-tightness and transient redness
- Headache reported anecdotally
Safety notes
Copper is a trace element with real toxicity at excess — accumulation is the specific risk, so avoid combining it with other copper sources or with copper supplements. Should not be used by anyone with Wilson's disease or other copper-handling disorders. Not for use in pregnancy.
Stacking
Topically combined with retinoids is common, though copper peptides and strong acids are usually separated in time because low pH destabilises the complex. Injectable protocols often pair it with BPC-157 for connective-tissue work.
Related compounds
Melanotan II
MT-II — synthetic alpha-MSH analogue
Skin & Aesthetics
The tanning peptide that was never approved and changes moles as well as skin.