Skin & hair · Healing & injury · Aging & longevity
GHK-Cu, simplified.
Also called Copper peptide
Human studiesA tiny copper-carrying peptide found in your blood. In skin creams, it has real human data for firmer, smoother skin.
- Size
- 3 amino acids + copper
- How it is taken
- Cream or serum (also injected)
- Status
- Cosmetic ingredient
What is it?
GHK grabs onto copper and helps deliver it to cells. Your levels drop as you age. In skin, it signals cells to make collagen and repair damage.
What studies show
- In peopleIn small studies of face creams, it improved skin firmness, thickness and fine lines over about 12 weeks.
- In the labIn lab studies, it switched on genes linked to repair and switched down genes linked to inflammation.
- In animalsIt sped up wound healing in animals.
What we don’t know yet
- Whether injecting it does anything that creams do not.
- How much it helps hair growth. The evidence is thin.
Side effects and cautions
- Creams are generally well tolerated.
- Injected versions are much less studied.
Is it legal?
Legal as a cosmetic ingredient. Injectable forms are included in the 2026 HHS compounding plan.
Common questions
What is GHK-Cu?
A tiny copper-carrying peptide found in your blood. In skin creams, it has real human data for firmer, smoother skin. GHK grabs onto copper and helps deliver it to cells. Your levels drop as you age. In skin, it signals cells to make collagen and repair damage.
What does the research say about GHK-Cu?
In small studies of face creams, it improved skin firmness, thickness and fine lines over about 12 weeks. In lab studies, it switched on genes linked to repair and switched down genes linked to inflammation. It sped up wound healing in animals.
Is GHK-Cu FDA approved?
Legal as a cosmetic ingredient. Injectable forms are included in the 2026 HHS compounding plan.
What are the side effects of GHK-Cu?
Creams are generally well tolerated. Injected versions are much less studied.
Related peptides
Not sure where to start?
Answer 8 quick questions and see which peptides the research points to for your goal.
This page explains published research in plain language. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything, and it does not give dosing. Most peptides here are not FDA-approved, and products sold online vary widely in purity. Rules around peptides are changing, so check the current status and talk with a licensed clinician before starting anything. Last reviewed 2026-09-26.