peptide

GHK-Cu

A copper-carrying peptide found in human blood and used in skin creams. Shots are not FDA approved.

A copper-binding tripeptide found naturally in human blood, widely used in cosmetics and studied for skin and wound repair; injectable forms have no approval and were placed in, then withdrawn from, the FDA's 503A Category 2.

Data refreshed 2026-11-01 · Based on 7 published references

At a glance

FDA approved

No.

Potential results

Fewer fine lines and wrinkles (small skin trials)
Better closing of diabetic foot ulcers (one trial vs plain gel)
No help for leg vein ulcers (trial vs placebo)
Slightly more eyebrow hairs (small trial vs placebo)
Shots: no controlled trials in people (animal studies only)

Unverified, online reports only: skin and hair, hoping for softer or thicker-feeling skin and faster hair and nail growth.

Dose

Study doses: see the Scientific view
Converter: mg, mL and syringe units

Storage

Powder: fridge (2–8 °C) for the short term, freezer (−20 °C) for the long term; after mixing, fridge for up to 28 days (general guidance, not tested for this compound).

A summary of the sources on this page, not medical advice.

What else trials studied for skin, wrinkles and facial lines: see the research quiz.

Names

Also called: copper peptide, copper tripeptide-1, Gly-His-Lys-Cu, GHK copper, prezatide copper, GHK

Regulatory (US)

FDA approval: none

503A compounding: unknown
Not on any FDA compounding list; see Regulatory picture.

Molecule

Formula: C14H22CuN6O4 (1:1 copper(II) complex of the tripeptide C14H24N6O4)

MW: 401.9 g/mol as the copper complex; 340.4 g/mol for the free tripeptide

CAS: 89030-95-5 (GHK-Cu complex); 49557-75-7 (GHK tripeptide)

PubChem entry

Sequence: Gly-His-Lys

Origin

Discovered by: Loren Pickart and M. Michael Thaler

Year: 1973

What it is

GHK-Cu is a very small piece of protein. It is a short chain of just three amino acids (a peptide) that holds one copper atom. It is found naturally in human blood, saliva and urine. Blood levels go down as people get older. “Cu” is the chemical symbol for copper. The copper gives the powder and liquid their blue colour.

Of all the peptides on this site, this one turns up most in everyday products. It has been used in skin creams and hair products for decades. These products use small amounts. They count as cosmetics, not drugs. The new interest is in stronger forms, including shots (injections). For those, the evidence and the rules are very different. No injectable or drug product with GHK-Cu is approved anywhere.

GHK (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine, C14H24N6O4, 340.4 g/mol) binds copper(II) with high affinity (log K about 16) through the glycine α-amino nitrogen, the histidine imidazole and the deprotonated amide nitrogen, forming the 1:1 complex GHK-Cu (C14H22CuN6O4, about 401.9 g/mol). Plasma concentration in young adults is about 200 ng/mL, falling to roughly 80 ng/mL by age 60 (Pickart’s figures). GHK is thought to be released by proteolysis of extracellular-matrix proteins such as collagen α2(I) and SPARC at injury sites.

Reported activities in cell and animal models include stimulation of collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycan synthesis by fibroblasts, modulation of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors, chemoattraction of immune and endothelial cells, and antioxidant effects partly attributable to copper delivery to superoxide dismutase. A 2018 review by Pickart and Margolina compiles gene-expression (Connectivity Map) data suggesting broad transcriptional effects. Human pharmacokinetics after injection have not been published.

Who made it and when

Loren Pickart found this peptide in 1973. He was studying why old blood plasma (the liquid part of blood) made liver cells act old. Young plasma made them act young. The key factor turned out to be this three-amino-acid piece bound to copper.

Pickart later started companies that licensed it for use in cosmetics. Most review articles about it were written by him. In the 1990s, studies tested it in creams and gels for wound healing.

In 2026, a company called Hudson Biotech posted a trial listing in a public registry. It was for a 0.1% gel on small skin wounds in China. The same company also posted a TB-500 listing that calls itself fictional. So this page does not count the GHK-Cu listing as a confirmed trial.

Pickart and Thaler reported the tripeptide in Nature New Biology in 1973 as a serum factor that prolonged survival of hepatocytes in culture. The copper complex was characterised over the following decade. Cosmetic patents under Pickart and licensees (Procyte Corporation, later Photomedex) covered topical formulations; those patents have expired and are not listed here because current holders could not be verified. The only registry entry for GHK-Cu as a drug is NCT07437586 (Phase 2, topical gel), posted in 2026 by Hudson Biotech, whose TB-500 entry NCT07487363 describes itself as “a fictional study”; it is not listed as a trial on this page. Earlier published clinical studies of GHK-Cu creams and gels in diabetic ulcers and photoaged skin are small, mostly industry-run and not registered.

What the data say

There is fair evidence that weak GHK-Cu creams make aged skin look better. There is also fair evidence that gels can help wounds heal. But these trials were small. Most were run by the companies that sell it.

Many lab and animal studies suggest it boosts collagen (a protein that gives skin its strength). They also suggest it helps repair tissue. But no controlled human study has tested GHK-Cu shots. There is no published data on how much copper a shot puts into the body. Nor is there data on what that copper does.

There is only one trial listing. It is for a gel on small wounds left after a skin sample was taken (a biopsy). Its sponsor also posted a listing that calls itself fictional. This listing has not reported any results.

Topical human data: small controlled studies from the 1990s and 2000s reported improved skin density, reduced fine lines and increased collagen in photoaged skin, and improved closure of diabetic and other chronic wounds with GHK-Cu gel; these are summarised in Pickart’s reviews rather than in independent meta-analyses, and most are not registered or are unpublished company reports. The 2026 registry entry NCT07437586 describes a Phase 2 split-wound design with 0.1% w/w gel; its genuineness could not be confirmed and no results have been posted.

Preclinical: in vitro, GHK-Cu increases fibroblast collagen and decorin synthesis, dermal fibroblast proliferation and endothelial migration; in rodent and porcine wound models, topical GHK-Cu increased granulation tissue and angiogenesis. Systemic administration data are limited to a few rodent studies (for example lung injury and bone models). No human injectable trial, pharmacokinetic study or systematic safety data exist. FDA’s 2023 listing stated there were “limited data in humans” for injectable use.

Regulatory picture

There are three separate questions here.

Approval: GHK-Cu is not an approved drug anywhere. But it is allowed as a cosmetic ingredient. So creams with it can be sold legally as cosmetics. That is only as long as they make no drug claims.

Compounding (pharmacies mixing their own versions): In September 2023, the FDA put injectable GHK-Cu in “Category 2”. This is the group of substances the FDA said raise serious safety risks. Pharmacies that mixed it could face FDA action. The FDA said it might trigger an unwanted immune reaction. It also said there was too little human data. By April 2026, the FDA’s page said it had been withdrawn from that category. The group that first put it forward had withdrawn it. In July 2026, an FDA expert panel (an advisory committee) met about BPC-157, TB-500 and KPV. GHK-Cu was not on its agenda. In May 2026, the FDA put GHK-Cu for uses other than shots back under review. It said it plans to bring GHK-Cu before the same panel by the end of February 2027. GHK-Cu was also not among the six peptides in the US health department’s October 2026 draft policy easing enforcement.

Enforcement: No FDA warning letters about GHK-Cu itself were found.

Approval: none. No IND-stage programme could be verified. Topical cosmetic use falls under the FD&C Act cosmetic provisions and INCI listing as copper tripeptide-1; that does not constitute drug approval.

Compounding: “GHK-Cu (for injectable routes of administration)” was placed in Category 2 of the interim 503A policy on 2023-09-29, with FDA citing aggregation-related immunogenicity, peptide impurities and limited human data. FDA’s page updated 2026-04-22 lists it among substances withdrawn from Category 2 by the nominators. It is not on the 503A bulks list (21 CFR 216.23) and was not among the substances reviewed by the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee on 2026-07-23. FDA’s 503A categories list updated 2026-05-14 returned “GHK-Cu (except for injectable routes of administration)” to Category 1 after a nominator clarified it had meant to withdraw only the injectable nomination, and states that FDA intends to consult the committee on GHK-Cu before the end of February 2027. GHK-Cu is not among the six peptides covered by the HHS draft enforcement-discretion policy of 2026-10-30 (docket HHS-OASH-2026-0496). This article therefore records the compounding status as unknown. The Category 2 listing never applied to topical cosmetic products.

Dose

Doses reported in trials and studies

How dosing worked in the studies

Every human study put copper peptide on or into the skin. In the Badenhorst trial, 40 women were assigned by chance to groups. Each woman put a GHK-Cu serum on one side of her face twice a day for 8 weeks. The study did not report how strong the serum was. The other side got a Matrixyl 3000 product or a control serum. In the Mulder study, people with diabetic foot ulcers (open sores) were assigned by chance to daily Iamin Gel or a plain gel with no active ingredient. In the Bishop study, 86 people with leg vein ulcers who could be assessed were assigned by chance to one of three creams: 0.4% GHK-Cu, 1% silver sulfadiazine, or a dummy treatment (placebo). The Kuceki study had no comparison group. In it, 7 men with hair loss had five monthly scalp-tattooing sessions. The solution had 1.2% copper peptides plus other hair-loss drugs.

Doses used in the studies are in the Scientific view.

Study doses are not personal dosing instructions. Reading doses safely: how concentration and syringe markings work.

Doses reported in studies, exactly as the cited trial reported them. They are not personal dosing instructions. Population, route and schedule matter more than the number.

No registered clinical trials are catalogued for this compound. The doses below come from other published studies in people.

Doses in other published studies

Published studies not listed in the trials table above: smaller or unregistered human studies first, then animal and cell studies. Doses are shown exactly as each study reported them. Animal studies report weight-based doses, absolute amounts or concentrations; none translates directly to people, and none is converted here.

Subjects	Design	Dose	Finding	Source
Humans: patients with diabetic neuropathic (plantar) ulcers; the abstract does not give the number of patients	Multicenter, randomized, evaluator-blinded, placebo (vehicle)-controlled	Iamin Gel (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine:copper complex), topical, as a daily application of a metered dose, alongside standardized wound care (sharp debridement at study entry, pressure-relieving footwear, patient education). The abstract gives neither the gel concentration nor the treatment length.	Median closure of the plantar ulcers was 98.5% with the gel and 60.8% with vehicle (p<0.05), and in ulcers treated immediately after debridement, infections were less frequent with the gel (7% vs 34%, p<0.05).	Mulder GD et al., Wound Repair and Regeneration, 1994
Humans: 86 evaluable patients with venous stasis ulcers	Prospective, randomized, evaluator-blinded; tripeptide-copper cream vs silver sulfadiazine 1% cream vs inert vehicle placebo	Tripeptide copper complex 0.4% cream, topical. The abstract does not state how often it was applied or for how long.	Ulcer size fell no more with the 0.4% tripeptide-copper cream than with placebo; only silver sulfadiazine 1% reduced ulcer size significantly.	Bishop JB et al., Journal of Vascular Surgery, 1992
Humans: 40 women aged 40 to 65 (39 analysed: 19 in the comparator-product group, 20 in the vehicle group); human adult dermal fibroblasts in the lab arm	Randomised, double-blind, split-face trial. The GHK-Cu serum went on the right side of the face, and either a commercial cosmetic containing Matrixyl 3000 (a lipophilic GHK derivative) or a control serum with neither GHK-Cu nor nano-carrier went on the left. A cell study was run alongside.	GHK-Cu in a lipid-based nano-carrier serum, applied topically twice daily (morning and evening) to one side of the face for 8 weeks. The paper does not report the GHK-Cu concentration in the serum. In the cell arm: 0.01, 1 and 100 nM, for 24 h for gene expression and for 48 and 96 h for collagen and elastin.	At 8 weeks, wrinkle volume fell 55.8% more on the GHK-Cu side than on the control side (p<0.001), and wrinkle depth fell 32.8% more (p=0.012). Against the Matrixyl 3000 product, wrinkle volume fell 31.6% more (p=0.004), but the 23.4% difference in depth was not significant (p=0.0577). In cells, all three concentrations significantly raised collagen and elastin at 96 h (not at 48 h), with little dependence on concentration.	Badenhorst T et al., Journal of Aging Science, 2016
Humans: 7 men aged 28 to 55 with androgenetic alopecia (Norwood-Hamilton III to IV) who had responded poorly to at least 1 year of standard oral and topical treatment	Retrospective case series, no control arm (research letter)	Five monthly sessions of dermal delivery by scalp tattooing of a compounded solution: 0.5% minoxidil sulfate, 0.1% dutasteride and 1.2% copper peptides. The paper does not name the specific copper peptide. Patients kept using topical minoxidil.	Median top-quadrant SALT score fell from 40.0% to 7.5% at 5 months (p<0.001), with a median top-scalp regrowth of 26.5%. The copper peptide's own contribution cannot be separated from the other drugs.	Kuceki G et al., JAAD International, 2025
Mice: 35 male C57BL/6 mice in 5 groups, with LPS-induced acute lung injury. The methods say n=5 per group, but the figure legends say n=7, which matches 35 mice in 5 groups.	Animal study (plus a cell study in RAW 264.7 macrophages)	GHK-Cu 1 or 10 μg/g, intraperitoneal, every 24 h for 3 days; intratracheal LPS (1 μg/g) was given 24 h after the third injection	Compared with LPS alone, 10 μg/g pretreatment reduced total cells and total protein in lavage fluid, raised SOD activity and GSH, lowered TNF-α and IL-6 in lavage fluid, and reduced phosphorylation of NF-κB p65, p38 MAPK and JNK. Lung MPO activity and neutrophil infiltration showed only a dose-dependent trend toward lower levels at 1 and 10 μg/g. The pretreated groups also had lower lung injury scores.	Park JR et al., Oncotarget, 2016
Mice: 60 male C57BL/6J mice exposed to cigarette smoke for 12 weeks (emphysema model)	Animal study (plus a cell study in A549 cells)	GHK-Cu 0.2, 2 and 20 μg/g/day, intraperitoneal, on alternate days from the 1st day after smoke exposure, until the mice were killed at 12 weeks	Doses of 2 and 20 μg/g significantly lessened the smoke-induced airspace enlargement. GHK-Cu lowered IL-1β and TNF-α in lavage fluid and MPO and MDA in lung homogenate, and partly reversed the MMP-9/TIMP-1 imbalance. The 20 μg/g dose restored T-AOC and GSH.	Zhang Q et al., Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, 2022
Humans: 50 patients with androgenetic alopecia (39 women, 11 men), mean age 47.7 ± 14.8 years (range 24-91). Anyone who had used systemic or topical hair-loss treatment, or a device such as a laser or microneedling, in the previous year was excluded.	Retrospective observational study at one centre, no control group (Istanbul Aydın University dermatology department, Turkey, April 2021 to June 2025)	Scalp mesotherapy with a mesogun (Pistor Eliance; 30G 13 mm needles at a depth of 2 mm; injections 0.5-1 cm apart, continuous mode over the whole alopecic area). Each session used '3 mL of solution: 1.5 mL DermaHeal HL and 1.5 mL DermaHeal Stem C'rum HL (Caregen Co. Ltd., South Korea)'. DermaHeal HL lists 'Copper Tripeptide-1 10 mg' among about 50 ingredients (growth-factor peptides, vitamins, amino acids, minerals, nucleotides), with the note 'All concentrations were milligrams in liters within 5 mL vials'. Stem C'rum HL lists copper tripeptide-1 but gives no amount. Schedule: four weekly sessions, then four sessions every two weeks (eight sessions over 3 months).	At 4 weeks after the last session, Trichoscan values rose significantly (all p<0.001): total hair count 72.9 to 87.5, hair density 213.7 to 236.6/cm2, terminal hair density 128.7 to 159.2/cm2, terminal hair ratio 61% to 68.6%, and average thickness 52.7 to 55.5 μm. Empty follicles and hair diameter variability fell, and upright vellus hairs increased. The only adverse effect was mild, short-lived pain during injection that cleared within an hour. Copper peptide was one ingredient of many, so its own effect cannot be separated.	Köse Ö, Borlu M., Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026;25(6):e70993 (open access, PMC13281371)
Humans: Example 7 is a clinical study of 750 men and women, stated as aged 20-60. It included people whose hair loss had not responded to 1 year or more of standard therapy, people with hair loss after a transplant, men at Norwood-Hamilton grades II-VI and women at all 3 Ludwig grades. Demographics are given only for the first 100; that table also lists cases of telogen effluvium, lichen planus and loose anagen syndrome, and ages up to 66. Hair-count results are shown for only 7 patients. Example 5 separately describes a 100-subject double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot in male and female pattern hair loss.	Patent reporting human administration (examples 5 and 7); Example 7 is an open clinical series. The developers say in a later paper (Kapoor R et al., Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open 2020, PMC7489598) that their 'solution 3', named QR678, lists Cu tripeptide-1 at 10 mg/L and that 'the same was used in the human trials subsequently'. That paper cites the 1000-patient open-label single-arm pilot (Kapoor R, Shome D. J Cosmet Laser Ther 2018;20(6):369-379; PMID 29482481), whose abstract gives no volume or concentration.	Intradermal (Example 7): 'the intradermal pharmaceutical composition was injected with an insulin syringe about 1-1.5 ml per session by the Nappage technique across the scalp where there is visible thinning. 8 such sessions were performed for each patient, at 3 weekly intervals.' The patent's preferred composition (Table 1, Example 2, claims 5 and 17) is 'Copper tripeptide 1 10 mg/L' with VEGF 5 mg/L, bFGF 2 mg/L, IGF 2 mg/L, KGF 1 mg/L and thymosin β4 0.01 mg/L, plus vitamins, minerals, amino acids and nucleic acids, in 5 mL vials. Example 7 does not restate which concentration was used. The Example 5 pilot 'tested all 4 formulations' (Table 2: copper tripeptide 1 at 0.1, 5, 10 or 30 mg/L), found solution 3 (10 mg/L) superior, and reports results 'after 8 treatments', with no volume stated. All Example 7 patients were also advised to use topical minoxidil (2% for women, 5% for men), and men took oral finasteride 1 mg.	In the 7 patients shown, after 8 sessions the terminal hair count at 15 cm from the glabella rose by a mean of 14.57 (p=0.004) and the vellus count fell by 11.57 (p=0.003); hair shaft diameter rose by 5 μm (p=0.006). The patent text says blinded photo scores improved in 71%, worsened in 10% and were unchanged in 19%. Its own Table 8 for the 7 patients, however, shows 4 improved, 2 unchanged and 1 worse. For the Example 5 pilot, the patent states 'No adverse events were seen at any timepoint including at 1 year follow up.' Copper peptide's contribution cannot be separated from the growth factors, minoxidil or finasteride.	Shome D, Kapoor R. US Patent 9,700,504 B2, 'Composition and method for an intradermal hair growth solution', granted 2017-07-11
Humans: one 50-year-old woman	Single case summary in a clinical toxicology teaching bulletin: University of Calgary Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology 'Pearl of the Week', 'Created and reviewed April 20, 2026'. Not peer-reviewed; no laboratory values are given.	'50F self-injected 132 mg GHK-Cu, a 66-fold dosing error after online purchase and reconstitution mistake.' A single accidental exposure; the injection route (e.g. subcutaneous) is not specified.	'Asymptomatic at presentation. Managed with home monitoring and outpatient follow-up.' The bulletin notes that 'at massive overdoses, the primary concern is copper toxicity'.	University of Calgary, Cumming School of Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology Pearl of the Week: Unauthorized Injectable Peptides, 2026 (Case 1)
Humans: 40 adults (over 18) with facial acne scars and no active acne, Fitzpatrick skin types IV-V, 20 per group. Dermaroller alone: 11 men, 9 women. Dermaroller plus copper peptide: 17 men, 3 women; the sex difference between groups was statistically significant.	Non-randomised before-and-after comparative study. Groups were assigned by purposive sampling, done by an independent consultant; a different consultant assessed the patients. Single tertiary hospital (Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, India), May 2023 to October 2024.	Topical anaesthetic, then dermaroller microneedling (540 titanium-coated needles, 1.5 mm long). The methods give 16-20 passes for the dermaroller-only group and 'adequate passes' for the copper group, followed by 'topical application of 1% copper peptide serum' left on for a minimum of 6 h and then washed off. The abstract describes the product as 'a glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine – tripeptide -1 serum booster (Brand name– skin perfection), which is readily available as 0.5–1% serum'. Five sessions 3 weeks apart (baseline and weeks 3, 6, 9 and 12), with a final follow-up at week 16. The amount applied is not stated.	The copper-peptide group started with worse scores (baseline Goodman-Baron quantitative score 22.7 ± 5.5 vs 20.7 ± 6.6). The authors report between-group p values of 0.05 at baseline and 0.04 at week 3, and no significant difference from week 6 on. Final scores were 16.7 ± 5.5 with copper peptide vs 16.2 ± 5.9 without, drops of 6 and 4.5 points. On qualitative grading, 14/20 (70%) vs 8/20 (40%) improved by one grade. Hyperpigmentation occurred in 8 of 20 patients (40%) given copper peptide and in none given dermaroller alone; it faded after the study ended.	Vignesh NR, Balakumaran C, Kumar NA, Sukanya G, Megalai AS, Sowbaghya PT. Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, 2026;19(2):149-157 (doi 10.25259/JCAS_56_2025)
Humans: 24 patients aged 18-35 with rolling and boxcar atrophic facial acne scars, 12 per group	Comparative study at Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chennai, India. Patients were 'divided randomly' into dermaroller alone vs dermaroller plus copper peptide; no randomisation method and no blinding are described. JMSCR is a low-tier journal. The paper is internally inconsistent: ice-pick scars are listed as an exclusion, yet ice-pick results are reported.	1% lignocaine cream for 45 min, then a dermaroller with 1.5 mm needles rolled horizontally, vertically and diagonally 'nearly 10-15 times' until superficial pinpoint bleeding. In the copper-peptide group, copper peptide ('concentration used for 1%') 'was applied directly and left off', and patients washed their face after 6 h. One sitting a month for five months (5 sittings). The product and the amount applied are not specified; the discussion describes GHK-Cu.	The mean Goodman-Baron quantitative score fell from 12.92 to 6.50 (50.3%) with dermaroller plus copper peptide, and from 11.42 to 8.50 (26.3%) with dermaroller alone. Within-group p values at the 5th sitting were 0.003 and 0.004 respectively; no between-group test is reported. In the copper-peptide group, boxcar scar scores fell 77.78% and rolling scar scores 34.79%, while ice-pick scars did not change. Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation occurred in 4 patients (3 dermaroller alone, 1 copper peptide), which the authors put down to poor sunscreen use.	Prem Kumar, Srinivasan S. Copper Peptides in Acne Scars. Journal of Medical Science and Clinical Research (JMSCR), 2019;7(2):63-74
Humans: 4 patients with male or female pattern hair loss	Case series of laser-assisted drug delivery (only the abstract was reviewed; full text is paywalled)	Non-ablative erbium-glass fractional laser (eight passes per session, 7 mJ, 3-9% coverage, density 120 mzt/cm2), followed by application of 'topical finasteride 0,05% and growth factors including basic fibroblast growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, and copper peptide 1%'. The abstract gives neither the number of sessions nor their interval, and does not name the specific copper peptide.	All four patients responded, with better regrowth and density in photographs taken 2 weeks after the last session and no significant side effects. The copper peptide's own role cannot be separated.	Bertin ACJ, Vilarinho A, Junqueira ALA. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2018;20(7-8):391-394 (PMID 29452017)
Humans: 18 healthy adults aged 18-40 with idiopathic eyebrow hypotrichosis (GEBA grade 1 or 2), mostly women, mean age 28.94 years	Randomised (fixed-block), double-blind, placebo (vehicle)-controlled split-face trial, one eyebrow per arm, after a patch test. Mae Fah Luang University Hospital, Bangkok. Conference-proceedings paper; full text reviewed.	2% GHK-Cu serum applied to one eyebrow twice daily for 12 weeks, with placebo serum (same base without the active ingredient) on the other eyebrow on the same schedule. The amount per application is not stated.	On the GHK-Cu side, eyebrow hair count rose from baseline (p=0.001); the placebo side did not change significantly (p=0.075). The sides differed only at week 12 (mean difference 1.833 ± 0.864 hairs, p=0.049). Hair diameter on the GHK-Cu side rose from 1.83 to 1.88 (p=0.005), with a between-side difference at week 12 of 0.10 ± 0.044 (p=0.036). Photographic scores were higher on the GHK-Cu side at weeks 4, 8 and 12, and satisfaction was higher. No adverse events or local skin reactions were seen on either side.	Sitt Lin Bo, Nararatwanchai T, Supornpun N, Poomarapan K, Thaploka S. The efficacy of 2% copper peptide (GHK-Cu) serum for eyebrow hypotrichosis. Procedia of Multidisciplinary Research, 2026;4(5)

Mixing examples reported by protocol websites

Examples for the freeze-dried powder, as reported by protocol websites, not taken from studies. The water amount only sets the concentration (how much is in each mL); it does not change how much of the compound is in the vial. Each concentration assumes the vial really holds its labelled amount and the final liquid volume equals the water added.

Vial	Water added	Concentration
50 mg	2.0 mL	25.0 mg/mL
100 mg	3.0 mL	33.3 mg/mL
100 mg	5.0 mL	20.0 mg/mL

Clean the rubber tops of both vials with an alcohol swab.
Add the water slowly, letting it run down the inside wall of the vial rather than onto the powder.
Swirl or roll gently until the powder dissolves; protocol sites advise against shaking.
The liquid should be clear. If it is cloudy or has specks in it, do not use it. Clear liquid does not show that the product is pure, the right strength or sterile.
Write the date and the concentration on the vial, and keep it in the fridge (2–8 °C). No safe storage time after mixing has been established for these products.

Products sold as "research peptides" have not gone through FDA review for safety, effectiveness or quality. Bacteriostatic water does not sterilize a contaminated powder. It contains benzyl alcohol, and its label says it is not for use in newborns. To work out a volume from your own numbers, use the converter.

Doses described in clinical or compounding practice

From FDA labels and documents, other regulators, published reviews and professional references, as each source states them. Unless a source says otherwise, these describe practice or proposals, not results tested in trials. Reading doses safely: how concentration and syringe markings work.

In its 503A bulk-substance nomination on FDA's public docket, Wells Pharmacy Network proposed compounding GHK-Cu as an injection, topical cream, topical foam and topical spray at strengths of "Injection: 10 mg/mL" and "Cream/Foam/Spray: 5 mg/mL". The proposed uses were "Androgenic Alopecia, Cosmeceutical Use, Soft Tissue Injuries", and the form's anticipated-route field reads only "Topical Cream". The form gives product strengths only, with no dose, frequency or duration, and none of the papers it cites tested injected GHK-Cu in people. This is the nominator's proposal, not an FDA finding. FDA's safety-risk page (updated 2026-04-22) now lists injectable GHK-Cu among the substances whose nominators withdrew them. (FDA docket FDA-2015-N-3534 (item 0306): Wells Pharmacy Network 503A bulk drug substance nomination of GHK-Cu, FDA document)
This 2026 narrative review's Table 3 ("Typical concentration and average result of dermatological peptides") gives GHK-Cu at 0.01–0.05% in a "Serum or cream" and cites no source for the figure. The review also says systemic GHK-Cu "is not yet used clinically". Cellgenic paid the publication costs, and author G.R. receives research grants from Cellgenic. (Renke G, Chinellato L. Therapeutic Peptides in Aesthetic, Metabolic and Endocrine Conditions: Effects, Safety, Clinical Applications, and Future Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2026;27(9):3890 (Table 3), Peer-reviewed)

Doses reported in online communities (untested)

Unverified, and not a recommendation. These are amounts people describe in online forums such as Reddit, collected so researchers can see how practice differs from the evidence. These forum accounts are not clinical evidence, even where they overlap studied doses. Products sold online as "research peptides" are not FDA approved, and their identity, purity and strength are not verified; they can be mislabeled, contaminated or wrongly dosed.

What people report

In the threads reviewed, people injecting GHK-Cu under the skin mostly report 1 to 2.5 mg once a day, with a few at 3 to 5 mg a day. Topical users cite serums labelled 2 to 4%, homemade serums at about 0.5 to 1%, and one product at 0.001%. The main disagreement is whether low-percentage or unlabelled serums contain much GHK-Cu, and whether any effect is more than subtle or placebo. Reported side effects include stinging, lasting welts, breakouts, dry skin, red patches and a metallic taste.

How this compares with the studies

Topical strengths people report overlap those studied in people (a 0.4% cream for venous ulcers; a 1.2% copper peptide solution mixed with other drugs for hair loss), though with different conditions and delivery. Injected GHK-Cu has only been tested in animals, so the 1 to 5 mg amounts have no human study behind them. Threads cite other users, "protocols", sellers' or online clinics' sites and, once, an AI chatbot.

Open questions a study would need to answer

Has any controlled human trial tested subcutaneous GHK-Cu, at any amount, for skin or hair outcomes?
What GHK-Cu concentration in consumer serums is effective and stable, and do products labelled 1 to 4% actually contain that much?
What causes the injection-site welts and breakouts people report, and are they dose-related?

Threads consulted, checked 2026-09-26: r/Peptides: I don't get GHK-CU · r/Peptides: First GHK-Cu injection · r/Peptides: Anyone use GHK-CU for hair growth? · r/Peptides: What are the side effects of taking too much GHK CU (besides the sting)? · r/tressless: DIY GHK-CU hair growth serum, help · r/tressless: 3/9/26 to 7/5/26 results - Oral Min + Fin + GHK-Cu (SubQ) · r/30PlusSkinCare: People Injecting GHK peptides on TikTok craze.. · r/30PlusSkinCare: Starting GHK-Cu: What dose did you begin with and what differences did you notice? · r/SkincareAddiction: Looking for a peptide serum where the brand actually discloses concentrations

Enforcement history

2023-09-29 · 503A Category 2 placement: FDA placed GHK-Cu, for injectable routes of administration, in Category 2 of the interim 503A bulk drug substances policy, citing immunogenicity risk from aggregation and peptide-related impurities and limited human safety data. Topical and cosmetic use was not the subject of the listing. (source)
2026-04 · Withdrawn from Category 2: FDA's safety-risk page (updated 2026-04-22) now lists GHK-Cu (injectable) under substances previously in Category 2 that were withdrawn by their nominators. It is not on the 503A bulks list and was not on the July 2026 advisory committee agenda. (source)
2026-05-14 · Non-injectable GHK-Cu returned to Category 1; advisory review planned: FDA's 503A categories list (updated 2026-05-14) added GHK-Cu (except for injectable routes) back to Category 1, under evaluation, after a nominator clarified on 2026-05-05 that it had meant to withdraw only its injectable nomination. FDA states it intends to consult the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee on GHK-Cu before the end of February 2027. (source)

Side effects and warnings

Not catalogued yet.

Full lists are in the Scientific view.

Reported side effects

Not catalogued yet.

Interactions

Not catalogued yet.

Contraindications

Not catalogued yet.

Storage

No approved drug product exists. Suppliers of the research-grade peptide generally state frozen or refrigerated storage of the powder and refrigerated, short-term use of solutions. Cosmetic products carry their own shelf-life labelling. These are supplier claims, not verified data.

General storage guidance commonly given for freeze-dried research peptides and powders, not stability data for this substance. Storage conditions and usable life depend on the specific product and formulation; follow its documented instructions.

Condition	Temperature
Temporary (transportation), in powdered form	15 °C – 25 °C / 59 °F – 77 °F
Short term (1–3 years)	2 °C – 8 °C / 36 °F – 46 °F
After reconstitution (28 days)	2 °C – 8 °C / 36 °F – 46 °F
Long term (2–5 years)	−20 °C / −4 °F or below

Product characteristics

Form: Lyophilized powder (research grade); ingredient in creams, serums and hair products at cosmetic concentrations

Appearance: Blue to blue-violet powder or solution, the colour of the copper(II) complex; the copper-free tripeptide is white

Solubility: Water-soluble

Stability: The copper is held by the histidine imidazole, the glycine amine and backbone nitrogens; copper can transfer to stronger chelators such as albumin in plasma

Compound information

Tripeptide chelated 1:1 with copper(II). Sold as a cosmetic ingredient (INCI copper tripeptide-1) and as a research peptide. Copper content means it should not be assumed inert; no safety data sheet from a regulated drug manufacturer was found.

Molecule, patents, enforcement history, full trial tables and compound details are in the Scientific view.

Common questions

What is GHK-Cu?

GHK-Cu is a very small piece of protein. It is a short chain of just three amino acids (a peptide) that holds one copper atom. It is found naturally in human blood, saliva and urine. Blood levels go down as people get older. "Cu" is the chemical symbol for copper. The copper gives the powder and liquid their blue colour.

Is GHK-Cu FDA approved?

Not FDA approved for any use.

What have studies found?

In small skin trials, wrinkles shrank more on the GHK-Cu side of the face than the control side after 8 weeks. A GHK-Cu gel helped diabetic foot ulcers close more than a plain gel.
But a 0.4% GHK-Cu cream did no better than a dummy treatment (placebo) for leg vein ulcers. GHK-Cu shots have only been tested in animals.

How was it dosed in studies?

Is it legal to buy as a "research peptide"?

Products sold as "research use only" or "not for human consumption" are not approved for use in people. That label does not make them legal to sell for human use, and their contents are not checked by any regulator.

References

This page summarises the published sources below. PeptideBasics101 does no original research. Trial doses and results are reported as the cited study or label reported them. Sources can themselves be wrong or superseded; if you find a statement here that does not match its source, please tell us through our corrections process. Sources were last checked on 2026-11-01.

Based on 7 published references

Pickart L, Thaler MM. Tripeptide in human serum which prolongs survival of normal liver cells. Nature New Biology 1973 (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Pickart L, Margolina A. Regenerative and protective actions of the GHK-Cu peptide in the light of the new gene data. Int J Mol Sci 2018 (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
FDA: certain bulk drug substances for use in compounding that may present significant safety risks (Category 2 and withdrawn substances) (fda.gov)
FDA: bulk drug substances nominated for use in compounding under section 503A, categories 1-3 (updated May 14, 2026) (fda.gov)
PubChem: copper tripeptide-1 / GHK-Cu (CID 71587328) (pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
PubChem: Gly-His-Lys, GHK (CID 73587) (pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Mokhtar J et al. The regenerative potential of GHK-Cu in aesthetic medicine: systematic review of 20 studies (18 preclinical, 2 randomised trials). Aesthet Surg J 2026 (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Clinical trial entries in the table above link to their ClinicalTrials.gov registry records. Spotted an error? See corrections.