GHK-Cu

Skin & hair Research only Human trials

Also called Copper tripeptide-1, Copper peptide

GHK bound to a copper ion. It is one of the best-studied cosmetic peptides, linked to collagen and elastin production, wound healing, antioxidant effects and hair follicle support. Copper delivery into cells is thought to be part of how it works.

Evidence at a glance

Evidence: Human trials — Studied in people
Status: Research compound only
Dosing: A dose has been tested in humans

The good human evidence is for creams and serums on skin, not for injection.

What studies report

Improved skin firmness, density and wrinkle depth in controlled topical trials
Faster wound closure in animal and some human wound studies
Thicker hair and more follicles in small topical studies

How it works

Activates fibroblasts to produce collagen and hyaluronic acid, restoring skin thickness, and shifts expression of a broad set of tissue-remodelling genes.

Binds a receptor on the cell surface and signals inward

Where it acts

Acts in the skin, throughout the body

The library groups this compound under Skin & hair. The diagram shows that target, not every tissue it reaches.

Illustrated

An anatomical cutaway block of human skin showing epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous tissue, a hair follicle and fine collagen fibres.

AI-generated subject illustration; not a depiction of the compound or evidence of its effects.

Why people take it

Skin thickness and collagenWrinkles and skin agingWound healing and scarringHair growthSkin firmness and wrinklesHair thickness

Reasons people seek it out — not a list of proven effects.

In practice Unapproved use

By far the most mainstream compound here — it is in ordinary retail skincare
Applied topically daily in serums for skin texture and firmness
Used with microneedling and after cosmetic procedures
Scalp application for hair thinning is common

Reported real-world use, not evidence and not a recommendation.

Dosing

What was tested Evidence

1–2% in a topical cream, twice daily12 weeksControlled facial skincare trials→ Improved skin density, firmness and wrinkle depth

What people report using Not evidence

Topical daily use is the well-evidenced route
Injected and microneedled use is off-label and has no trial support

Reported for reference, not as instruction. Nothing here is a recommendation to take anything, and most of these compounds are not approved for human use.

Status: Widely used in topical skincare. Injected use is not approved.

Route: Topical in skincare; injected or microneedled in off-label use
Sequence: Gly-His-Lys · Cu²⁺
Formula: C14H24CuN6O4
Molecular weight: 403.9 g/mol
CAS: 89030-95-5
Available as: 50 mg, 100 mg

View on PubChem →

Search PubMed for GHK-Cu → We link a live search rather than a fixed citation list, so it stays current and nothing here is a reference we have not checked.

Compared with

vs GHK →

Side-by-side pages for the compounds this one is most often confused with or taken alongside.

Educational information only. Nothing here is medical advice, a dosing protocol, or a recommendation to use any compound. Most entries describe substances not approved for human use. Talk to a licensed clinician before acting on anything you read here. How to read these entries.