GHK-Cu

aka Copper Tripeptide, Copper-GHK

Skin, hair and wound-healing copper peptide

MW (Da)

340.39

Half-life

~2 hr (subQ); topical local activity

Sequence

GHK·Cu²⁺

Storage

Lyophilized: room temp acceptable; reconstituted: refrigerate.

Research chemicals only. Not for human use. For research and educational purposes only. Always do your own due diligence and consult qualified professionals.

Hover any underlined term for a plain-English definition.

Safety at a glance

Full safety details

Most-reported side effects

Skin irritation in sensitive users
Bluish staining on cotton (cosmetic only)

Don't use if…

Wilson's disease (copper accumulation)
Pregnancy

What it is, in plain English

GHK-Cu is a tiny copper-binding peptide naturally found in your body — copper levels drop sharply after age 30, and that's part of why skin and hair quality decline. People use GHK-Cu topically (in serums) for skin firmness and hair regrowth, or by injection for systemic anti-aging effects. It's one of the most-studied peptides in human skin science.

Who tends to explore this

You want to fade fine lines, age spots or scars without going the prescription-retinoid route
You're seeing early thinning at the temples or crown
You want a 'gentle' first peptide — GHK-Cu has one of the cleanest safety profiles in this category

Who should skip this

You have Wilson's disease or any copper-metabolism disorder
You're pregnant or breastfeeding
You're allergic to copper (rare; usually first noticed as itching from copper jewelry)

What to expect — typical timeline

Week 1–2

Topical: skin starts feeling slightly more elastic. Injection: typically nothing noticed yet.

Week 3–6

Skin texture and tone visibly improve. Some users see new hair growth at the front hairline.

Month 2–3

Cumulative gains — fine lines softer, scars smoother, hair denser at treated areas.

Individual responses vary widely. This is a typical pattern, not a guarantee.

Common beginner mistakes

Using a high-end GHK-Cu serum on top of a strong vitamin C product — the two cancel each other out chemically
Expecting overnight results — GHK-Cu rebuilds tissue slowly; assess after 8 weeks, not 2
Worrying about the bluish tint on cotton swabs — it's just copper, completely cosmetic