Copper Tripeptide-1, Copper Peptide
Evidence Grade C — Moderate human evidence. 64 published studies, 28 human. 0 registered clinical trials.
GHK-Cu is a copper peptide found naturally in your blood that is widely used in skincare and anti-ageing products. As a cosmetic ingredient (under the name 'copper tripeptide-1'), it appears in serums, creams, and hair care products. It has no pharmaceutical approval for any medical condition. The topical cosmetic use should be clearly distinguished from its unregulated availability as an injectable research compound — these carry fundamentally different risk profiles.
64 published studies: 28 human, 10 animal, 26 in-vitro, 8 reviews
GHK-Cu has no pharmaceutical authorisation from any regulatory agency. It is widely available as a cosmetic ingredient in over-the-counter skincare products, where it is marketed for skin conditioning. A small study comparing GHK-Cu cream to vitamin C and retinoic acid creams reported improvements in skin appearance measures.
No pharmaceutical clinical trials for injectable GHK-Cu have been completed. The compound's cosmetic use (topical, in formulated skincare products) should be clearly distinguished from its unregulated availability as an injectable research compound. These represent fundamentally different risk profiles.
Research suggests the copper ion in GHK-Cu may serve as a cofactor for enzymes involved in collagen cross-linking. Laboratory studies have reported effects on collagen synthesis, gene expression, and wound-related pathways. These observations come from in vitro (cell culture) experiments and limited topical application studies. The distinction between cosmetic-grade topical application and injectable pharmaceutical use is significant — the evidence base pertains primarily to topical use.
Research suggests GHK-Cu has been studied primarily as a cosmetic ingredient, with small studies comparing it favourably to vitamin C and retinoic acid creams for skin appearance measures. The topical safety record is excellent over decades of cosmetic use. No pharmaceutical clinical trials for injectable GHK-Cu have been completed. There are no injectable pharmacokinetic data, no established human dosing for systemic use, and a potential copper toxicity risk with systemic administration that does not apply to topical use. Products from unregulated sources intended for injection lack pharmaceutical quality assurance.
No trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov for this compound.
The information on this page is provided for educational and research reference purposes only. This is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions.
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