Skin & hair (cosmetic)
GHK-Cu
Copper peptide
A natural copper peptide widely used in skincare.
What it is
A three-amino-acid peptide (glycyl-histidyl-lysine) bound to copper. It occurs naturally in blood, and levels fall with age.
How it's thought to work
It is thought to support collagen production, wound repair and antioxidant activity in skin.
What the evidence shows
Small studies of topical creams report improvements in skin appearance, and lab studies support wound-healing effects. Injected GHK-Cu has little human research. Blends that combine GHK-Cu with BPC-157, TB-500 or KPV have not been studied as combinations.
Regulatory status
Used as a cosmetic ingredient. Not approved as a drug.
Safety notes
Topical use is generally well tolerated. Injected products are unregulated.
Key sources
- 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.
Educational summary only, not medical advice. Gtides does not sell or link to sellers of GHK-Cu or any other product. Products sold as “research peptides” are not approved medicines, and their contents, purity and sterility are not verified.