GHK-Cu
Glycyl-L-Histidyl-L-Lysine Copper Complex
GHK-Cu is a peptide people usually talk about for Skin Rejuvenation: Improves skin elasticity, firmness, and thickness while reducing wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and photodamage. and Wound Healing: Accelerates the healing of chronic wounds, surgical incisions, and burns by promoting tissue remodeling and angiogenesis.. It is still in the FDA review process, so people are watching both the research and the access question closely.
Why does this matter?
GHK-Cu matters because a lot of people hear about it online without a clear sense of what it may actually help with. This page gives you the plain-English version first, then shows where the research is strongest, what is still uncertain, and where the peptide stands in the FDA review process.
Molecular weight
340.38 g/mol (for the peptide itself), approximately 404 g/mol when complexed with copper.
Molecular formula
Not specified in the source research
Amino acid count
3
Review date
Before February 2027
Sequence / structure
Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine (Gly-His-Lys) complexed with a copper(II) ion.
Other names
GHK-Cu, Copper peptide, Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine:copper(II), Loren Pickart's copper peptide, Tripeptide-1 Copper
Status
Under FDA review for skin and tissue repair
GHK-Cu is a copper peptide best known for making skin and tissue look younger while helping damaged areas heal. It gets most of its attention for collagen support, wound repair, hair growth, and the broader anti-aging effects people want from a regenerative therapy. The reason it stands out is that it is not just cosmetic — it also shows deeper repair signals in skin, connective tissue, and inflammation control.
The quick version before the deep dive
- •People usually talk about GHK-Cu for Skin Rejuvenation: Improves skin elasticity, firmness, and thickness while reducing wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and photodamage. and Wound Healing: Accelerates the healing of chronic wounds, surgical incisions, and burns by promoting tissue remodeling and angiogenesis..
- •Wound Healing: Accelerates the healing of chronic wounds, surgical incisions, and burns by promoting tissue remodeling and angiogenesis.
- •Helps trigger the synthesis of collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans in skin fibroblasts.
- •Induces antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, protecting cells from oxidative stress and free radical damage.
Deep Dive: Mechanism of Action +
Extracellular Matrix Remodeling: Stimulates the synthesis of collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans in skin fibroblasts.
Antioxidant Activity: Induces antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, protecting cells from oxidative stress and free radical damage.
Anti-inflammatory Effects: Reduces the secretion of inflammatory cytokines (like TGF-beta and TNF-alpha) and suppresses free radical production.
Stem Cell Attraction: Attracts immune cells and endothelial cells to the site of injury, promoting angiogenesis and tissue regeneration.
Gene Modulation: Found to modulate the expression of over 4,000 human genes, generally resetting them to a healthier, more youthful pattern of expression (e.g., upregulating DNA repair genes and downregulating pro-inflammatory genes).
Where people usually see it discussed
Investigated Applications +
- Skin Rejuvenation: Improves skin elasticity, firmness, and thickness while reducing wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and photodamage.
- Wound Healing: Accelerates the healing of chronic wounds, surgical incisions, and burns by promoting tissue remodeling and angiogenesis.
- Hair Growth: Stimulates hair follicle growth and increases the size of hair follicles, often compared favorably to minoxidil in some studies.
- Anti-aging: Broad systemic anti-aging effects due to its gene-modulating properties.
- COPD (Lung Repair): Emerging research suggests it can promote lung tissue repair and reduce inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease models.
Formal evidence and study snapshots
Deep Dive: Clinical Trials +
Skin Studies
ResearchSkin and tissue repair
Placebo-controlled trials have shown that GHK-Cu creams significantly increase skin collagen and improve skin appearance better than vitamin C or retinoic acid.
Wound Healing
Clinical researchSkin and tissue repair
Clinical studies on diabetic and ischemic wounds demonstrated faster healing rates and improved closure compared to standard care.
Hair Growth
ResearchSkin and tissue repair
Trials evaluating topical GHK-Cu formulations have shown increased hair density and thickness in patients with androgenetic alopecia.
What the current safety discussion looks like
- ✓GHK-Cu has an excellent safety profile. It has been used safely in cosmetic products and wound healing dressings for decades with very few reported adverse effects. Since it is a naturally occurring peptide in the human body, it is well-tolerated. Excessive dosing (especially via injection) could theoretically lead to copper toxicity or injection site reactions, but this is rare at standard therapeutic doses.
How the status timeline currently reads
Current status
In the United States, GHK-Cu is widely available as an ingredient in cosmetics and topical skincare products. For therapeutic or injectable use, its status is more restricted. It falls under FDA Category 2 considerations for compounding, with an advisory committee review expected in February 2027 regarding its status on the bulk drug substances list.
How dosing is usually described
Topical
Commonly formulated in concentrations ranging from 0.05% to 2% in creams, serums, and hair tonics. Applied 1-2 times daily.
Injectable
Subcutaneous injections are typically dosed between 1mg to 2mg daily or every other day for systemic anti-aging and regenerative benefits. Protocols often recommend cycling (e.g., 30 days on, 30 days off) to manage copper accumulation and prevent zinc depletion.
Research protocols only. Not medical advice.
The citations behind the page
Deep Dive: Key Research Papers +
- 1
Pickart, L. "(1981)" The use of glycylhistidyllysine in culture systems 1981.
- 2
Pickart, L., et al. "(2015)" GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration 2015.
- 3
Pickart, L., & Margolina, A. "(2018)" Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data 2018.
- 4
Campbell, A., et al. "(2012)" The human tri-peptide GHK and tissue remodeling 2012.
Common questions about GHK-Cu
What is GHK-Cu? +
GHK-Cu is Glycyl-L-Histidyl-L-Lysine Copper Complex, one of the peptides currently under review in connection with skin and tissue repair.
What is GHK-Cu being reviewed for? +
The current advisory review focuses on skin and tissue repair, with a listed review date of Before February 2027.
Which category does GHK-Cu belong to? +
GHK-Cu is grouped in this library under Healing and Longevity.
How many amino acids are in GHK-Cu? +
GHK-Cu is presented here as a 3-amino-acid peptide or peptide analog based on the source research and naming conventions.
What is the sequence or structure note for GHK-Cu? +
Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine (Gly-His-Lys) complexed with a copper(II) ion..
What research applications are most associated with GHK-Cu? +
Skin Rejuvenation: Improves skin elasticity, firmness, and thickness while reducing wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and photodamage., Wound Healing: Accelerates the healing of chronic wounds, surgical incisions, and burns by promoting tissue remodeling and angiogenesis., Hair Growth: Stimulates hair follicle growth and increases the size of hair follicles, often compared favorably to minoxidil in some studies., and Anti-aging: Broad systemic anti-aging effects due to its gene-modulating properties.
How is GHK-Cu described as working in the current research? +
Helps trigger the synthesis of collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans in skin fibroblasts. Induces antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, protecting cells from oxidative stress and free radical damage.
How is GHK-Cu usually discussed in protocols or treatment plans? +
GHK-Cu is most often described with topical and injectable protocols in the source material.
What does the safety discussion say about GHK-Cu? +
GHK-Cu has an excellent safety profile. It has been used safely in cosmetic products and wound healing dressings for decades with very few reported adverse effects. Since it is a naturally occurring peptide in the human body, it is well-tolerated. Excessive dosing (especially via injection) could theoretically lead to copper toxicity or injection site reactions, but this is rare at standard therapeutic doses.
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