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.

Why people take it

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

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.

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.

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

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 →

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.