Well researchedSkin & cosmetic

GHK-Cu

Copper peptide, GHK

REC PPT-GHK-CU // REV 2026-10-04 // assessment changes are logged, never silent

The best human evidence of any ‘cosmetic’ peptide — but topically, not injected.

What it is

A naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine) present in human plasma, with levels declining with age.

What it does

Studied for effects on collagen synthesis, wound repair and skin appearance; copper delivery appears central to its activity.

Does it work?

Topical GHK-Cu has genuine peer-reviewed human cosmetic data and appears in mainstream skincare. Injected use is a different question with far less evidence behind it — the two should not be conflated.

Claims vs data

Each marketing claim, tagged by what the evidence actually supports.

Improves skin appearance (topical)	supported
Stimulates collagen	partially true
Injected equals topical benefit	weak evidence

Reference figures

Quoted from published reference material. These are not Peptuity recommendations.

Vial50 mg

Diluent3 ml

Listed dose1.7 mg

Units / 1 ml10

FormulaC14H21CuN6O4-

Mol. weight400.90 g/mol

molecular data — PubChem CID 139035031

Open in the calculator — prefilled →

The evidence, counted

Live counts from Europe PMC and ClinicalTrials.gov.

Publications 195

Randomised trials 2

Clinical trials 0

Registered studies 3

195 publications indexed, but only 2 randomised controlled trials and 3 registered interventional studies. Human evidence exists but is thin.

SRC // EUROPE PMC + CTGOV // "GHK-Cu" // FETCHED 2026-10-04 // 195 RECORDS

Most-cited literature

[01] Dissecting the Crosstalk Between Nrf2 and NF-κB Response Pathways in Drug-Induced Toxicity
Gao W, Guo L, Yang Y, Wang Y, Xia S, Gong H, Zhang BK, Yan M. · Front Cell Dev Biol 2021 · 259 citations · DOI 10.3389/fcell.2021.809952
[02] Self-Assembling Peptide-Based Hydrogels for Wound Tissue Repair
Guan T, Li J, Chen C, Liu Y. · Adv Sci (Weinh) 2022 · 217 citations · DOI 10.1002/advs.202104165
[03] Redox chemistry of copper-amyloid-beta: the generation of hydroxyl radical in the presence of ascorbate is linked to redox-potentials and aggregation state
Guilloreau L, Combalbert S, Sournia-Saquet A, Mazarguil H, Faller P. · Chembiochem 2007 · 204 citations · DOI 10.1002/cbic.200700111
[04] Bioactivities, Applications, Safety, and Health Benefits of Bioactive Peptides From Food and By-Products: A Review
Zaky AA, Simal-Gandara J, Eun JB, Shim JH, Abd El-Aty AM. · Front Nutr 2021 · 193 citations · DOI 10.3389/fnut.2021.815640

Regulatory status

Formal, dated regulatory actions.

WADA — Prohibited List 2026

Prohibited in sport — WADA S0 (substance without any health-authority approval)

source →

Common questions

Does topical GHK-Cu actually work for skin?

Topical use has genuine peer-reviewed human cosmetic data — the best of any cosmetic peptide we track — and appears in mainstream skincare.

Is injecting GHK-Cu better than applying it?

That is unproven. The human evidence base is topical; injected use is a different question with far less data, and the two should not be conflated.

Why does it contain copper?

The tripeptide binds a copper ion, and copper delivery to tissue appears central to its activity in collagen and repair pathways.

Related compounds

Limited evidence