HEALING AND RECOVERY
GHK-Cu
Also known as Copper Peptide, Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-copper, GHK-copper
GHK-Cu is a copper peptide studied mainly in skin and wound-healing contexts, with the strongest evidence for topical cosmetic use. Systemic or injected use is far less characterised, and broad anti-ageing claims should be read cautiously.
Reference dose range
200–1000 mcg
Reported frequency
Once daily in research references; topical formulations vary
Reported routes
Topical, Subcutaneous
Short plasma half-life; topical application acts locally. Most reference data concern cosmetic and dermatological use rather than systemic dosing.
Use the calculators for arithmetic only
Mechanism
GHK-Cu is a copper-binding tripeptide (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine) that complexes copper ions. It has been studied for roles in wound healing, collagen and elastin synthesis, angiogenesis, and antioxidant signalling. The most robust evidence comes from topical and dermatological contexts.
Reported effects
Skin-quality and collagen signals in dermatological studies
Wound-healing signals in preclinical and topical research
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in preclinical models
Hair-related claims that remain weakly supported
Commonly reported side effects
Administration-site reactions
Theoretical copper accumulation with prolonged systemic use
Certainty and limits
The best evidence for GHK-Cu is topical and cosmetic. Systemic injected benefits are largely extrapolated, and long-term copper load is a genuine consideration that the topical literature does not address.
This is part of the reviewed public subset. The signed-in app includes a broader peptide reference library alongside private tracking tools.