GHK-Cu
Strong evidence as a skin ingredient you put on. Much weaker evidence as something you inject.
Not approved anywhere
| What it is | A three-amino-acid peptide bound to copper, found naturally in plasma and declining with age. |
|---|---|
| How it is thought to work | Signals fibroblasts to produce collagen and elastin, and has antioxidant activity. This is well described in skin. |
| What the evidence actually shows | Good published human evidence for topical cosmetic use — skin firmness, fine lines, wound healing. Injectable systemic use has not been studied in humans to any comparable standard. |
| Regulatory status | Widely used as a cosmetic ingredient. Not an approved injectable drug in the US. |
| Dosing | No established human injectable dose. Topical cosmetic concentrations in published studies do not translate to an injection. |
| In the catalog as |
Risks and cautions
- Copper accumulation is a genuine consideration with repeated systemic dosing, particularly for anyone with a copper metabolism disorder.
- Injection site reactions are commonly reported anecdotally.
Before you act on any of this
This page describes what is known and what is not. It is not a recommendation to use anything, and it is not a protocol. Compounds listed as research chemicals are not approved medicines and are not sold for human use. Talk to a doctor who knows your history.