# GHK-Cu

Three amino acids carrying a copper ion, found naturally in blood at levels that decline with age. In creams and serums it is an ordinary cosmetic ingredient. Injected, it has no human data.

Also called: Copper tripeptide-1, Copper peptide
Source page: https://peplogue.com/peptides/ghk-cu/
Updated: 2026-10-22. Not medical advice.

## How it works

- Where it acts: It carries copper into cells. In lab studies it switches on genes for collagen and tissue repair.
- What it changes: On skin, more collagen and repair signals in small studies.
- What people notice: In creams, modest changes in skin texture in small trials. Injected, there is no human data.

## What the evidence shows

- **Wrinkles and firmness (cream or serum)**: Early. Small studies, many unpublished or linked to manufacturers. One randomized eight-week trial reported 56% less wrinkle volume than a control serum.
- **Hair growth**: Lab only. No controlled human trial found.
- **Wound healing**: Early. A GHK-copper wound gel was tested on skin ulcers in the 1990s with mixed results. Most other evidence is from animals.
- **Whole-body rejuvenation by injection**: Lab only. Doses quoted online are scaled up from rats.

## Side effects and risks

- common: Occasional skin irritation. Few other effects are reported, and most reports come from people with a stake in it.
- unknown: For injections, FDA cites the risk of immune reactions from clumping and impurities, and says human data are limited.

Who should avoid it: Injected forms. People with Wilson's disease, who cannot clear copper, should be cautious.

## How it has been given in studies

Applied to the skin as a cream or serum for 8 to 12 weeks. There is no human dose for injection.

## Legal status

- United States: undefined. Cosmetic ingredient. The injectable form is unapproved.
- European Union: undefined. Cosmetic ingredient. The injectable form is not authorized.
- Spain: undefined. Legal as a cosmetic ingredient under EU Regulation 1223/2009, which applies in Spain. Injectable GHK-Cu is not an authorised medicine (not in CIMA).
- Germany: undefined. Creams sold freely as cosmetics (EU rules). Injectable GHK-Cu is not a cosmetic and has no approval, so selling it is unlawful.
- France: undefined. Cosmetic creams remain allowed. Injectable GHK-Cu is unauthorised: ANSM named it in its Jul 2026 alert on dangerous online peptides.
- Italy: undefined. Topical copper peptide is a cosmetic, sold without prescription. Injected GHK-Cu is not a cosmetic under EU law and has no Italian authorisation as a medicine.
- Netherlands: undefined. Allowed as a cosmetic ingredient (EU Cosmetics Regulation, NVWA supervises). Injectable GHK-Cu sold as a 'research' product is not an authorised medicine.
- United Kingdom: undefined. Cosmetic ingredient. The injectable form is unlicensed.
- Canada: undefined. Cosmetic ingredient. The injectable form is not authorized.
- Australia: undefined. Cosmetic ingredient. The injectable form is not registered.

## Questions people ask

**Does copper peptide (GHK-Cu) work for skin?**

Small studies, many unpublished or linked to manufacturers, suggest modest changes in skin texture. One randomized eight-week trial reported 56% less wrinkle volume than a control serum.

**Does GHK-Cu help hair growth?**

No controlled human trial was found. The evidence for hair comes from the lab only.

**Is injecting GHK-Cu safe?**

Injected, it has no human data, and doses quoted online are scaled up from rats. FDA cites the risk of immune reactions from clumping and impurities.

**What are the side effects of GHK-Cu?**

Occasional skin irritation or stinging from serums. People who inject it report painful injections and tiredness afterwards, and serums can leave blue stains on fabric.

**Is GHK-Cu legal?**

In creams and serums it is a cosmetic ingredient in the US, EU, UK, Canada and Australia, but the injectable form is not approved, authorized or registered in any of them. FDA advisers are due to review it for compounding by February 2027.

## Sources

- Pickart & Margolina 2018: review of GHK-Cu studies: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/19/7/1987
- FDA: bulk substances that may present significant safety risks: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/certain-bulk-drug-substances-use-compounding-may-present-significant-safety-risks
- FDA Law Blog: which peptides go to the advisory committee (Apr 2026): https://thefdalawblog.com/2026/04/fdas-peptide-rally-what-compounders-and-industry-need-to-know-post-1-of-2