Educational information only. Not medical advice. Nothing here is a recommendation to use any substance. Read the medical disclaimer
The Peptide Informative
Home / Peptide Library / GHK-Cu
Mostly animal & labNot approved

GHK-Cu

Copper-binding tripeptide used in skin-care products. Lab and animal work dominates; controlled human data are sparse.

Part 1Header & identifiers

Also known as: Copper tripeptide; glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper complex. Class: Copper peptide / skin.

Structure
Tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine bound to copper(II)
Where it occurs
Human plasma, saliva and urine; levels reported to decline with age [2]
Common use
Topical skin-care products [2][3]
Injectable
Nominated for compounding, then withdrawn (FDA)

Last reviewed 3 Nov 2026 by The Peptide Informative editorial team. Found an error? Tell us; see our corrections policy.

Part 2Status at a glance

FDANot an FDA-approved drug. Injectable GHK-Cu was nominated for the 503A bulks list, then withdrawn (FDA list).
What's nextFDA's Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee is expected to consider GHK-Cu at its next meeting, anticipated before Feb 2027 (ArentFox Schiff).
SportCheck the current WADA Prohibited List.

Status checked 3 Nov 2026. Regulations changed several times in 2026, so check the linked sources for updates.

Part 3Evidence grade

Mostly animal & lab

Mostly lab and animal research plus narrative reviews. The one randomized human study we verified was small (13 completers) and found no objective benefit.

How we grade evidence.

Part 4What it is

GHK is a three-amino-acid peptide that binds copper. Reviews by its most prolific researchers report that it stimulates collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycan synthesis, supports dermal fibroblasts, and influences the expression of thousands of human genes in lab datasets [1][2].

Read the affiliationsBoth major reviews list the authors' affiliation as the R&D department of Skin Biology, a skin-care company [1][2]. That does not make them wrong, but it is a reason to look for independent replication.

Part 5What studies found

Human study

In a randomized study after CO2 laser resurfacing around the mouth, 13 patients completed treatment with or without GHK-Cu skin-care products. Blinded evaluators and computer analysis found no significant difference in redness, wrinkles or overall skin quality between the groups, though patient-rated satisfaction was higher with GHK-Cu (P = .04) [3].

Lab and animal studies

Reviews describe faster wound healing in rats, mice and pigs, and effects on skin, lung connective tissue, bone, liver and stomach lining in experimental models [1][2]. A 2026 systematic review of microneedle delivery argues for expanded clinical trials, which highlights that the human evidence is still thin [4].

Part 6Doses used in published studies

Not a recommendationThese are doses reported in published studies, listed with their population, route and duration so readers can understand the research. They are not instructions, and they say nothing about safety for you. Talk to a licensed clinician.
StudyPopulationRouteDose studiedDurationMain result
Miller et al. 2006 [3]13 adults after CO2 laser resurfacing (randomized)Topical skin-care regimenConcentration not stated in the abstract12 weeks of follow-upNo objective difference; higher patient satisfaction

We found no controlled human study of injected GHK-Cu, so no injected dose is listed.

Part 7Safety & adverse events

  • The sources we reviewed contain no human safety data for injected GHK-Cu.
  • The 2006 topical study did not report safety problems in its abstract, but with 13 completers it cannot detect uncommon effects [3].
  • For peptides it has reviewed for compounding, FDA has repeatedly cited immunogenicity and peptide-related impurities as risks (FDA).

Part 8What is unknown

  • Whether the gene-expression findings in lab datasets lead to meaningful effects in people.
  • Independent, adequately powered randomized trials of topical products.
  • Any human safety or pharmacokinetic data for injected GHK-Cu.
  • The outcome of the next FDA advisory committee review.

Part 9Community discussion

GHK-Cu will have its own moderated category when our forum opens. Personal experiences there are labeled as anecdotes, and claims about research must link a source.

Join the forum waitlist

Part 10References

  1. Pickart L, Margolina A. Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(7):1987. PubMed 29986520 · doi:10.3390/ijms19071987
  2. Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:648108. PubMed 26236730 · doi:10.1155/2015/648108
  3. Miller TR, et al. Effects of topical copper tripeptide complex on CO2 laser-resurfaced skin. Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2006;8(4):252-9. PubMed 16847171 · doi:10.1001/archfaci.8.4.252
  4. Najafi N, et al. A Systematic Review of the Mechanisms and Therapeutic Applications of GHK-Cu in Topical Microneedle Delivery: A Case for Expanded Clinical Trials. Arch Intern Med Res. 2026. PubMed 42787770 · doi:10.26502/aimr.0255
Educational information onlyThis profile summarizes published research. It is not medical advice and does not recommend using GHK-Cu. Full medical disclaimer.