GHK-Cu

Research compound

aka Copper Peptide, Copper tripeptide-1

Copper peptide. A skincare staple for collagen and repair, and the one cosmetic peptide that actually earns its reputation.

Mechanism

A copper-binding tripeptide your body already makes. It drives collagen synthesis, mops up oxidative damage, and helps skin heal. Topically it's well studied and it genuinely works.

Regulatory & Safety Status

Topical use in cosmetics is fine and well tolerated. Injecting it is off-label, research-only territory and a completely different risk profile.

Research

2026Aesthetic surgery journal

The Regenerative Potential of GHK-Cu in Aesthetic Medicine

2026Carbohydrate polymers

A tea exosome-integrated self‑oxygenating cascade chitosan/oxidized alginate hydrogel for remodeling the hyperglycemic and hypoxic microenvironment in diabetic wound healing

2026The American journal of sports medicine

Peptide Supplements and Their Therapeutic Applications in Sports Medicine

2026Skin research and technology : official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging (ISSI)

Augmented Skin Beneficial Effects of Thermus Thermophilus and Bacillus Subtilis Mixed-Culture Ferment Extract by Tripeptide GHK-Cu

2023PubMed

GHK-Cu skin and collagen research

2024PubMed

Latest GHK-Cu research

Related Compounds

Recovery

BPC-157

Research compound

The recovery peptide everyone in the gym talks about. Loads of rat data, almost no human data.

Recovery

TB-500

Research compound

Synthetic piece of Thymosin Beta-4, run for recovery. Same story as BPC: good anecdotes, thin human data.