GHK-Cu[Copper tripeptide-1]
Compound snapshot
Class
Copper-binding tripeptide
FDA approved
No as an injectable; widely used in cosmetic topicals
Clinical development
Preclinical
Last reviewed
September 2026
Research areas
Skin / Collagen / Wound healing
Regulatory status
Research use only — not approved (cosmetic topical use is widespread)
Internet attention
High
Registry query
GHK-Cu
A naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine). Plasma levels fall sharply with age — roughly 200 ng/mL at 20 to about 80 ng/mL by 60.
Reality check — what we actually know
Supported by human evidence
- No adequately powered randomised human trials establish the outcomes this compound is marketed for.
Animal research only
- Increased dermal collagen and elastin — measurable skin firmness and thickness gains in controlled cosmetic studies
- Reduced fine lines, improved skin density and reduced photodamage in human facial trials
- Faster wound closure with less scarring in animal and human wound models
Mechanistically plausible
- Delivers copper into cells and switches on a broad gene programme: it upregulates collagen I, III and IV, elastin, decorin and glycosaminoglycans, activates antioxidant enzymes, and has been shown in gene-expression work to shift thousands of human genes toward a younger profile.
Common internet claims
- Online discussion frequently presents GHK-Cu as a proven treatment rather than a research compound.
Not established
- Human efficacy for the outcomes commonly claimed
- Optimal route, quantity and duration in humans
- Long-term human safety
Evidence distribution
Each band is a live PubMed search for GHK-Cu, filtered to that kind of study. Top is the strongest evidence; the base is reasoning, not proof. A band with no records means that kind of study has not been published for this compound yet.
Mechanism and reported findings
Delivers copper into cells and switches on a broad gene programme: it upregulates collagen I, III and IV, elastin, decorin and glycosaminoglycans, activates antioxidant enzymes, and has been shown in gene-expression work to shift thousands of human genes toward a younger profile.
- Increased dermal collagen and elastin — measurable skin firmness and thickness gains in controlled cosmetic studies
- Reduced fine lines, improved skin density and reduced photodamage in human facial trials
- Faster wound closure with less scarring in animal and human wound models
- Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in skin
- Hair-follicle stimulation in early studies
Strength of the evidence: The best human evidence of any peptide in this list — but almost all of it is topical cosmetic use, not injection. Injectable GHK-Cu has no approved indication.
Safety and known cautions
Copper accumulation is a real concern with systemic use. Topical formulas can irritate or stain. Avoid in Wilson's disease.
Evidence at a glance
No single score, on purpose. The line beside each bar shows how much reported outcomes vary between studies.
Development stage
- Discovery
- PreclinicalCurrent
- Phase 1
- Phase 2
- Phase 3
- Regulatory review
- Approved