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Skin, hair & anti-aging

GHK-Cu

A copper tripeptide the body makes itself. Known for skin regeneration, collagen and wound healing in a research context.

4 min read 16 sources

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Still from the explainer video about this entry
Early phase 1 · not approvedLab tested in the shop

No time to read it all? The video sums up the whole entry in about a minute, from how it works to the studies and storage.

Summary

At a glance

Sources checked on 26 Oct 2026

Structure
3 amino acids

Glycine, histidine and lysine, plus a bound copper ion3

GHK in blood, age 20 to 60
-60 %

from about 200 to 80 ng/ml, according to a review2

At least changed
4,000 genes

up- or downregulated, cell data from the Connectivity Map2

Wound area closed
98.5 %

Gel on diabetic foot ulcers, median (vehicle gel without active substance 60.8%), study from 19944

Phase 3 in the registry
0 trials

only one early phase 1 trial with a skin serum, as of 26 Oct 202615

  • GHK-Cu is a tripeptide the body makes itself, built from glycine, histidine and lysine and bound to a copper ion. Its blood level drops markedly with age.32
  • In cell cultures fibroblasts produced more collagen, in rat wounds more collagen and glycosaminoglycans built up.678
  • Database analyses show that GHK changes the activity of at least 4,000 genes. These are cell data, not measurements in humans.21
  • The best human study is a randomised gel trial on diabetic foot ulcers from 1994. A small study after laser treatment found no measurable benefit.45
  • Controlled human studies on injection are lacking. GHK-Cu is not approved (as of October 2026). Everything here is the state of research, not a recommendation.131516
Profile

Updated May 2026

Class
Copper tripeptide

GHK-Cu

Route
Subcutaneous

also topical in cosmetics

Frequency
Daily or every other day
Form
Lyophilised powder

reconstituted with BAC water

Sizes
50 to 100 mg

2 sizes in the shop

Contents 17 sections
  1. At a glance
  2. What is GHK-Cu?
  3. How it works
  4. What you need
  5. Reconstitution
  6. Injection
  7. Dosing
  8. What the research shows
  9. Research status
  10. On the skin
  11. Side effects
  12. Practice
  13. Storage
  14. Related compounds
  15. FAQ
  16. Glossary
  17. Sources

What is GHK-Cu?

GHK-Cu is a small molecule the body makes itself: the tripeptide GHK (glycine-histidine-lysine) bound to a copper ion. It occurs naturally in the blood but drops markedly with age. That decline coincides with the fading regenerative capacity of the skin.

In a research context, GHK-Cu is mainly known for skin regeneration, collagen building, wound healing and anti-aging. It is used subcutaneously (and topically in cosmetics). It ships as a freeze-dried powder you dissolve in bacteriostatic water.

Comparison

Compared with related compounds

Where each compound acts, as stated in the TPD lexicon. Tap a card to open its entry.

Tripeptide without copper GHK Basic Related copper tripeptide AHK-CU
Copper tripeptide GHK-Cu

How it works

GHK-Cu works less through a single receptor than through gene regulation. In studies it modulates the activity of thousands of genes and shifts the pattern toward "younger and regenerative". In practice that means it prompts fibroblasts to make more collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycans. It also engages the remodeling of connective tissue.

On top of that come antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In sum, in a research context GHK-Cu is a regeneration and repair signal, not a metabolic or hormone peptide.

Where it acts

Effects seen in studies

Tap a point or a card. Grey = effect seen in trials.

  1. Nervous system

    Nerve outgrowth in cell cultures, less anxiety and pain behaviour in mice (according to a review)1

    Observed in trials
  2. Lung

    Reversed a gene pattern of lung destruction (emphysema), connective tissue cells from COPD lungs remodelled normally again9

    Observed in trials
  3. Liver

    Protection of liver tissue against a liver toxin (carbon tetrachloride), according to a review3

    Observed in trials
  4. Stomach and gut

    Fewer stomach ulcers, intestinal ulcers closed better, according to a review3

    Observed in trials
  5. Skin and wounds

    More collagen, glycosaminoglycans and tissue in rat wounds7

    Observed in trials
Translucent connective tissue with fibres and cell nuclei, with blue 3D molecules and small copper-coloured spheres in between
Symbolic image.

What you need

For subcutaneous use you need:

Supplies

5 things, numbered as in the picture

Tick off what you already have. Vial and BAC water are our real shop photos at the same size.

GHK-Cu vial with blue powder and bacteriostatic water at the same size with the black TPD label, next to two U-100 insulin syringes, two alcohol swabs and a sharps container with a blue lid

  1. GHK-Cu vial

    The GHK-Cu vial with the freeze-dried powder (typically blue, that is the copper colour)

    In the shop

  2. Bacteriostatic water

    Bacteriostatic water to dissolve it

    In the shop

  3. U-100 insulin syringes

    U-100 insulin syringes

    Amazon (opens a new tab)

  4. Alcohol swabs

    Alcohol swabs for the vial cap and the skin

    Amazon (opens a new tab)

  5. Sharps container

    A sealable sharps container for used needles

As an Amazon associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links open Amazon - no extra cost for you.

Reconstitution

The powder is dissolved in bacteriostatic water. How much water you add sets the concentration and therefore how many units you draw for your dose on the insulin syringe.

Use the peptide calculator for this: pick your vial size and the water volume to see the concentration and units per dose. The solution typically turns blue from the copper, which is normal.

When dissolving, just add the bac water, it does not matter if it hits the powder directly. Then swirl or shake until everything has dissolved, both are fine.

Step by step

Dissolving the powder

Four steps, the same for every vial size.

  1. 1Wipe the cap

    Clean the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab.

  2. 2Add BAC water

    Just add it, it does not matter if it hits the powder directly.

  3. 3Swirl or shake

    Until everything has dissolved, both are fine.

  4. 4Draw up

    With the U-100 insulin syringe.

Less water higher concentration fewer units on the syringe Example: 50 mg + 2 ml = 25 mg/ml

Injection

The injection is subcutaneous, into the fat layer under the skin, classically the abdomen (keep about two finger-widths clear of the navel), the front and the inner side of the thigh or the back of the upper arm. For local targets (e.g. a specific skin region), some inject nearby.

Injection

Where and at what angle

Pick a spot or switch the angle. Subcutaneous means: into the fat layer, not the muscle.

Rotate the spot each time, never the same one twice in a row.

90°More fat under the skin

Rule of thumb: where there is more fat under the skin, insert straight at 90 degrees. In lean people with little fat, 45 degrees, so the needle stays in the fat layer. Simplified diagram.

  1. Clean the spot with an alcohol swab and let it dry

  2. Pinch up a small fold of skin

  3. Insert the needle: at 90 degrees where there is more fat under the skin, at 45 degrees in lean people with little fat

  4. Inject slowly, wait a moment, then withdraw

  5. Put the needle straight into the sharps container

Rotate the site each time.

Dosing

Dosing

Dosing, titration and syringe

Loading the dosing information …

  • Getting started and stepping up, drawn as a staircase
  • Units on the U-100 syringe for every step
  • How long one vial lasts
GHK-Cu vial with blue powder on a white ceramic tray with an insulin syringe and a closed notebook
Symbolic image.

What the research shows

GHK-Cu is well studied mechanistically, mainly through the work of Loren Pickart. Reviews show that GHK-Cu modulates the activity of thousands of genes even in tiny amounts and promotes collagen, elastin and other connective-tissue building blocks. The data base is, however, strongly mechanistic and cosmetic (topical). Large clinical studies on injectable use in humans are limited. That belongs in the picture honestly.

The studies with links are in the source block below.

Study results

What the trials measured

Interactive: switch tabs, tap points, show or hide arms. Arms are named relative to each other, no dosing advice.

Wound closure in diabetic foot ulcers4

Median closed wound area, randomised trial with gel on the wound

All ulcers on the sole of the foot4 Gel daily, plus standard wound care
Vehicle gel without active substance +60.8%
GHK-Cu gel +98.5%
Large ulcers (over 100 mm²)4 Here the wound did not close at the median on vehicle gel
Vehicle gel without active substance -10.3%
GHK-Cu gel +89.2%

Plus = share of the area that closed. Minus = the ulcer grew. Gel on the skin, not an injection. The abstract does not state the number of participants or the duration.

More collagen in skin samples2

Share of women with more collagen after cream on the thigh, small pilot study

Collagen increased2 Comparison of three creams, tissue samples under the microscope
GHK-Cu cream 70%
Vitamin C cream 50%
Retinoic acid cream 40%

Figures from the review, the original paper is not listed in PubMed. Two reviews state the duration differently (one month or 12 weeks). Three creams were compared.

Direction of gene changes1

Share of up- and downregulated genes according to the review, Connectivity Map data

Genes changed by GHK1 31.2% of all genes measured changed by at least 50%
Genes upregulated 59%
Genes downregulated 41%

The table in the same review gives slightly different shares (2,687 genes up, 1,513 down). Measured in cell lines in a public database, not in humans. The figures show that a lot changes, not whether that helps in the body.

Glass dish with a skin-coloured tissue sample on a bright lab bench, next to test tubes and a microplate
Most data on GHK-Cu come from cell cultures and animal studies. Symbolic image.

Research status

Where the research stands

Registered trials with status, participants and results. As of 26 Oct 2026. 15

  1. Preclinical Cell cultures plus rats, mice, pigs and dogs
  2. Phase 1 1 trial, 0 completed
  3. Phase 2 no registered trial
  4. Phase 3 no registered trial
  5. Approval not yet
Not approved. ChEMBL lists GHK without a clinical phase and without a recorded mechanism.16

Apart from 1 phase 1 trial there is no registered trial in phase 2 or later. 15

On the skin

The human studies applied GHK-Cu to the skin rather than injecting it. In a randomised study in people with diabetes a GHK-Cu gel was put on foot ulcers. The wounds closed clearly better than with a gel without active ingredient (Mulder 1994). After facial laser treatment a small study with GHK-Cu skin care found no objectively measurable difference, but participants were more satisfied (Miller 2006). On top of that there are smaller cosmetic studies with low-concentration creams, summarised in the reviews.

Hand touching a swirl of white cream on a light marble slab with water droplets and white flowers
Symbolic image.

Side effects

GHK-Cu is considered well tolerated. Mostly mild things are reported: injection-site reactions, occasionally brief redness. Because it is a copper complex, you should not overdo it at very high or very long use, the body has a copper balance that should not be overloaded. There is no solid human data on this.

Tolerability

Infections in the gel trial

Out of 100 ulcers per group, how many became infected.

34 of 100 Vehicle gel without active substance
7 of 100 GHK-Cu gel
Event Vehicle gel without active substanceGHK-Cu gel
Ulcer infection4 34%7%

The only safety figure from a controlled human trial, with a gel and not as an injection. There are no systematic data on side effects of injection. In skin cells GHK-Cu caused no irritation, unlike free copper salts.411

Practice

A few things that help:

  1. Use in cycles over a few weeks, steady rather than sporadic.

  2. Stay in the moderate dose range, GHK-Cu works through signaling, not through quantity.

  3. Sleep and protein support the regeneration GHK-Cu relies on.

  4. The blue colour of the solution is normal (copper), not a sign of a problem.

Bedside table with a glass of water, a bowl of almonds and a light blue sleep mask next to a bright bed

Storage

The undissolved powder is robust, normal room temperature (around 20 to 25 degrees) is fine, ideally kept in the dark. The reconstituted solution goes into the fridge (2 to 8 degrees) and stays stable there for at least 4 to 6 months with barely any loss of potency, in practice considerably longer. The bacteriostatic water brings a preservative that keeps the dissolved form stable for longer.

Shelf life

How long it keeps

Undissolved (powder) Room temperature, around 20 to 25 degrees, dark

Robust, no fridge needed. Best kept in the dark.

Dissolved (mixed) Fridge, 2 to 8 degrees

At least 4 to 6 months with barely any loss of potency. The bacteriostatic water brings a preservative. The blue colour is normal.

  • Keep it dark
  • Dissolved: 2 to 8 degrees
  • Note the mixing date on the vial
Nine vials with white powder and blue caps in the door shelf of a bright fridge
Powder dark at room temperature, once dissolved into the fridge (2 to 8 degrees), stable there for at least 4 to 6 months. The blue colour comes from the copper. Symbolic image.

Related

Related compounds

Same features, blends with GHK-Cu or a different path: all in the TPD lexicon.

GHK-Cu
GHK Basic The same peptide without bound copper AHK-CU Related copper tripeptide, focus on hair KPV Another tripeptide, anti-inflammatory BPC-157 Different path: regeneration peptide TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4) Different path: thymosin beta-4 GHK-Cu + KPV Blend Contains GHK-Cu plus KPV Glow Blend Contains GHK-Cu plus BPC-157 and TB-500 Glow Blend (Mini) Glow Blend in a smaller size Klow Blend Contains GHK-Cu plus BPC-157, TB-500 and KPV Klow Blend 110 Klow Blend with more BPC-157, TB-500 and KPV GGH (GHK + Glutathione + Histidine + NADH) Contains GHK plus glutathione, histidine and NADH

FAQ

Common questions about GHK-Cu

Short answers, each backed by the sources below.

Is GHK-Cu approved?

No, as of 26 October 2026 there is no approval. ClinicalTrials.gov lists no trial in phase 2 or phase 3. Only an early phase 1 trial with a serum of several peptides is running. ChEMBL lists GHK without a clinical phase.1516

What role does the copper play?

GHK binds copper about as tightly as the copper transport site of the blood protein albumin. In cell studies the peptide helped bring copper into cells.310

What do the human studies show?

They are small and use gel or cream on the skin. In a randomised trial on diabetic foot ulcers a median 98.5 percent of the wound area closed with GHK-Cu gel, 60.8 percent with vehicle gel. After facial laser treatment a study with 13 people found no objective difference, only satisfaction was higher. Other cosmetic studies are small and mostly not listed in PubMed.451

Are there studies on injection?

We found no controlled human studies with injection. In animal studies GHK-Cu was injected, for example into wound chambers under the skin of rats. Recent reviews call the clinical evidence sparse and see GHK-Cu as promising but unproven.71312

What does it mean that GHK changes more than 4,000 genes?

The figure comes from the Connectivity Map, a database of gene profiles from cell lines. About 31.2 percent of all genes measured changed by at least 50 percent; according to the review 59 percent were upregulated and 41 percent downregulated. In a lung study GHK reversed a gene pattern of tissue destruction this way. Whether the same happens in the body has not been measured.219

Why is there less GHK with age?

According to a review, GHK in blood is about 200 ng/ml at age 20 and about 80 ng/ml at 60. The decline coincides with fading regeneration. No study has tested whether added GHK-Cu makes up for this decline.2

Which side effects are known?

Systematic data are lacking. In skin cells GHK-Cu caused no irritation, while free copper salts at the same amount did. In the gel trial there were fewer infections than with vehicle gel. A review of peptides in sports medicine stresses that robust human safety data are missing for many of these substances.11414

Which trials are still running?

The registry only lists one early phase 1 trial: a serum with several peptides including GHK-Cu is applied to the skin of 48 planned participants, with the primary endpoint planned for October 2028. There are no results yet.15

Glossary

Terms explained briefly

Dotted words in the text open these explanations directly.

Antioxidant
Protects cells against aggressive oxygen compounds (free radicals).
Collagen
The most common structural protein in the body. It gives skin, tendons and bone their strength.
Connectivity Map
Public database of the Broad Institute with gene profiles of cell lines after exposure to many different substances.
Copper ion
Electrically charged copper atom (Cu2+). It turns the dissolved form of GHK-Cu blue.
Elastin
Stretchy protein that lets skin and vessels spring back after stretching.
Fibroblasts
Cells in the connective tissue of the skin that produce collagen, elastin and other building blocks.
Gene regulation
Control of how strongly a gene is read. Upregulated means more, downregulated means less.
Glycosaminoglycans
Long sugar chains in connective tissue that bind water. Examples are hyaluronic acid and dermatan sulfate.
Lyophilisate
Freeze-dried powder. Without water a peptide keeps much longer.
Subcutaneous
Into the fat layer just under the skin.
Topical
Applied to the skin, for example as a cream, serum or gel.
Trial phases
Phase 1 tests tolerability in a few people, phase 2 first efficacy, phase 3 confirms benefit and safety in many. After that, approval can be requested.
Tripeptide
A peptide made of exactly three amino acids. For GHK these are glycine, histidine and lysine.
Vehicle gel
The same gel without the active substance. Comparing against it shows what is due to the substance itself.

Evidence

Sources

Show all 16 sourcesHide sources 14 Studies1 Trial registry1 Database checked 26 Oct 2026

Studies

  1. Review of regeneration and gene expression of GHK-Cu

    Pickart & Margolina, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2018

    DOI 10.3390/ijms19071987 PMID 29986520
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed, PubMed Central
  2. Review of GHK as a modulator of cellular pathways in skin regeneration

    Pickart et al., BioMed Research International, 2015

    DOI 10.1155/2015/648108 PMID 26236730
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed, PubMed Central
  3. Review of GHK and tissue remodelling

    Pickart, Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition, 2008

    DOI 10.1163/156856208784909435 PMID 18644225
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  4. Randomised trial of GHK-Cu gel in diabetic foot ulcers

    Mulder et al., Wound Repair and Regeneration, 1994

    DOI 10.1046/j.1524-475X.1994.20406.x PMID 17147644
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  5. Randomised study of GHK-Cu skin care after laser resurfacing

    Miller et al., Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, 2006

    DOI 10.1001/archfaci.8.4.252 PMID 16847171
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  6. More collagen in fibroblast cultures

    Maquart et al., FEBS Letters, 1988

    DOI 10.1016/0014-5793(88)80509-x PMID 3169264
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  7. More connective tissue in rat wounds

    Maquart et al., Journal of Clinical Investigation, 1993

    DOI 10.1172/JCI116842 PMID 8227353
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  8. Glycosaminoglycans and decorin in wounds

    Siméon et al., Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

    DOI 10.1046/j.1523-1747.2000.00166.x PMID 11121126
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  9. Gene signature of emphysema and its reversal by GHK

    Campbell et al., Genome Medicine, 2012

    DOI 10.1186/gm367 PMID 22937864
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  10. GHK binds copper and carries it into cells

    Pickart et al., Nature, 1980

    DOI 10.1038/288715a0 PMID 7453802
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  11. Skin irritation by copper compounds in skin cells

    Li et al., Scientific Reports, 2016

    DOI 10.1038/srep37664 PMID 27892491
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  12. Review of GHK as an anti-wrinkle ingredient

    Mortazavi et al., BioImpacts, 2024

    DOI 10.34172/bi.30071 PMID 39963574
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  13. Systematic evidence map of GHK-Cu

    Mateescu et al., Pharmaceutics, 2026

    DOI 10.3390/pharmaceutics18091077 PMID 42797253
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed
  14. Review of safety and efficacy of peptides in sports medicine

    Mendias & Awan, Sports Medicine, 2026

    DOI 10.1007/s40279-026-02437-0 PMID 41966639
    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via doi.org, Crossref, PubMed

Trial registry

  1. All trials on ClinicalTrials.gov

    ClinicalTrials.gov, U.S. National Library of Medicine

    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via ClinicalTrials.gov API v2

Database

  1. GHK in ChEMBL (no recorded mechanism)

    ChEMBL, EMBL-EBI (CHEMBL1814493)

    Checked 26 Oct 2026 via ChEMBL

In the shop

GHK-Cu in the catalog

Sizes, prices and shipping times are on the product page.

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