Evidence strength for the context described on this page.
PEPTIDE ATLAS / SKIN & HAIR / GHK-CU
Food supplement / cosmeticEarly human
GHK-Cu
ALSO KNOWN ASCopper tripeptide-1
A copper-binding cosmetic peptide with a very different risk profile when injected.
01CATEGORYSkin & hair
02REGULATORY STATUSFood supplement / cosmetic
03COMMON ROUTETopical cosmetic use; injectable products are unapproved
04DOSE BASISFinished-product / study context
HOW TO USE THIS PAGE
Read the profile in the order that protects the decision.
- 01Verify what it is
Confirm the exact molecule, route, regulatory lane and actual human evidence.
- 02Read limits before dose
Unsupported claims, contraindications and uncertainty come before any protocol.
- 03Build the monitoring plan
Define the target, baseline checks, reassessment point and stop rules with a qualified clinician.
RESEARCH PASSPORT
The five facts to know first.
REVIEWED
JULY 2026
Status is product-, formulation- and indication-specific.
Trial, label or reported-practice basis is always named.
Official labels, regulators, trials and indexed literature where available.
Peptide hormones, growth factors and related substances may be prohibited.
Check Global DRO ↗OVERVIEW
What GHK-Cu is.
A naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide used in topical cosmetic products. Topical cosmetic use, compounded injection and research-grade powder should be treated as distinct categories.
HOW IT IS THOUGHT TO WORK
In laboratory models it influences extracellular matrix, wound signaling and gene expression. Human cosmetic outcomes are less certain than mechanistic marketing suggests.
EFFECTS & EVIDENCE
What the evidence supports—and what it does not.
- May support appearance-focused skin formulations
- Limited human evidence for hair or wound outcomes
- Systemic rejuvenation
- Safe injectable anti-aging
- Clinically meaningful hair regrowth
- That copper delivery is universally beneficial
Evidence grade: Early human. For an approved drug, “high” refers only to its labeled indication—not every off-label or wellness claim.
DOSAGE CONTEXT
Best available dosing range.
Finished-product / study contextUse a finished topical cosmetic exactly as labeled; published products and studies use formulation-specific concentrations rather than a universal milligram dose. There is no FDA-approved injectable dose, and topical cosmetic exposure cannot be converted into an injection amount.
- Route
- Topical cosmetic use; injectable products are unapproved
- Duration
- Topical products are generally assessed over 8–12 weeks for tolerance and appearance
- Men & women
- No established sex-specific amount.
Clinician verification required. Always double-check the exact molecule or salt, concentration, route, volume, schedule, indication, patient-specific contraindications, interactions and applicable law with the prescribing clinician and dispensing pharmacy. A disclaimer does not make an unapproved product FDA-approved, and a reported-use range is not a prescription.
MONITORING
What should be tracked.
- Irritation, discoloration or dermatitis
- Photography under consistent lighting for cosmetic claims
SAFETY
Risks, red flags and reasons to avoid it.
- Topical irritation or allergy
- Injectable aggregation, immunogenicity and impurities
- Limited human safety data for systemic use
- Injection
- Broken or infected skin unless a clinician directs care
- Assuming cosmetic-ingredient status means injectable safety
Stop and seek careGet urgent medical help for trouble breathing, facial or throat swelling, chest pain, fainting, severe persistent abdominal pain, neurologic changes, severe hypoglycemia, uncontrolled vomiting or a prolonged painful erection.
CLINICIAN VISIT CHECKLIST
Six questions worth bringing with you.
Molecule or analog, salt, concentration, route, manufacturer or compounder, lot and beyond-use date.
Name the diagnosis or target, how it will be measured and the realistic time to reassess.
Ask how it compares with FDA-approved, lower-risk or better-studied alternatives.
Label, human trial, specialty guideline or clinic convention—and whether that route and formulation match.
Baseline checks, follow-up measures, interactions, pregnancy considerations and symptoms that mean stop.
Pharmacy license, prescription, identity/potency testing, sterility controls and who handles a product complaint.
Do not improvise reconstitution or convert “units” without the exact concentration. Mixing, storage and beyond-use instructions are product-specific; confirm them with the dispensing pharmacy.
PRIMARY SOURCES
Read the record yourself.
We prioritize official prescribing information, FDA regulatory material, registered trials and indexed biomedical literature. A source supports the specific statement beside it—not every claim made about the molecule.
PRODUCTS & TREATMENT ACCESS
Choose a tested finished product.
Widely available in cosmetics; injectable use is not FDA-approved.
Route matters. A topical ingredient with modest cosmetic evidence does not become a proven systemic longevity therapy when placed in a vial.
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Coming soon: identity testing, contaminant screening, transparent sourcing and dose-per-serving comparisons.
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