GHK-Cu
Skin & anti-agingHealing & recoveryAlso known as: Copper tripeptide-1, GHK copper, Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper, Copper peptide
A naturally occurring copper carrying tripeptide studied for skin, collagen, and wound healing.
2.What it is / mechanism
GHK-Cu is a small peptide of three amino acids that binds a copper ion. The body makes it naturally, and levels fall with age. Much of its effect comes from delivering copper, which the body needs to build collagen and elastin. In lab and skin studies it stimulates collagen and other support molecules, and it appears to switch on many genes tied to repair and inflammation. It is the copper part that gives a mixed solution its blue color.s1
3.What the evidence supports
- Limited human dataImproves skin firmness, fine lines, and overall skin quality.s1
Supported by cosmetic and topical human studies, along with lab work. Most of this evidence is for creams and serums, not injections.
Shown in animal wound models, such as a rat study where it raised collagen in healing tissue. Human injectable data is limited.
- Animal data onlyActs on many genes linked to repair and inflammation.s1
Based on cell and gene expression work, not human outcomes.
- Anecdotal onlyInjected for whole body anti aging.
Popular in the community, but not backed by human trials for this use.
4.Dosing
| Route(s) | subcutaneous, topical (creams and serums) |
|---|---|
| Typical range | Injectable: about 1 to 2 mg per day for skin and anti aging, sometimes up to 2 to 5 mg per day for wound healing. Topical: 2 to 4 percent creams. |
| Frequency | Once daily, often in short cycles |
| Cycle guidance | Commonly run for a few weeks with breaks in between. |
| Notes | Injectable dosing comes from community practice, not human dose finding trials. The of GHK-Cu is not well established, so there is no plot for it here. Remember that a mixed GHK-Cu solution is blue because of its copper. |
A dose is only as good as the draw. Which syringe you need depends on how much water you mixed with, and the most common gear mistakes (a 0.5 mL syringe that cannot hold the dose, a mixing barrel that ships without needles, sizing up a needle because of body fat) are all avoidable. See what to buy: syringes, needles, and the rest of the kit.
5.Reconstitution
| Vial sizes | 50 mg, 100 mg |
|---|---|
| Diluent | Bacteriostatic water for multi dose vials, or sterile water for single use |
| Concentration | Example: a 50 mg vial plus 5 mL of water gives 10 mg/mL, so 1 mg is 0.1 mL, which is 10 units on a U-100 syringe. The solution will look blue, which is normal. |
| Notes | GHK-Cu usually ships as 50 mg or 100 mg freeze dried vials. Once mixed, the solution is blue from the copper. |
Reconstitution calculator
Pick your vial size and how much water you add to see the draw volume and syringe units for a dose. Open the full calculator →
Inputs
Which do you know?
You want a set amount of compound. We show how many units to draw on the syringe.
Reminder: 1 mg = 1,000 mcg
Total amount stated on the vial, e.g. 5 mg.
How much diluent you draw into the vial.
Check this before you read the result. 1 mg = 1,000 mcg, so picking the wrong one is a 1,000x error, not a rounding error.
Result
Draw to
1 units
= 0.01 mL on a U-100 syringe
Easy draw: this dose comes out to a clean 1 units.
Aim for a dose that lands on an even number of units, like 10, 20, or 50. It is easier to draw accurately and to remember, and it keeps you off awkward repeating decimals.
- Concentration
- 25,000 mcg/mL
- Per unit
- 250 mcg / unit
- Doses per vial
- 200
Your settings live in the address bar, so a pasted link opens this calculator exactly as you left it.
Educational estimate only. Not medical or dosing advice. Verify every calculation independently before use.
6.Storage & stability
Lyophilized (dry)
| Temp | Freeze for long term storage, or 2 to 8 short term |
|---|---|
| Shelf life | Many months when frozen |
| Notes | Keep dry and out of light until you mix it. |
Reconstituted
| Temp | 2 to 8 (refrigerated) |
|---|---|
| Shelf life | About 4 weeks |
| Notes | Do not freeze after mixing. A blue color is normal. Discard if it turns brown, cloudy, or grows anything. |
7.Reported side effects
- WarningCopper overload with high or long term dosings1A concern with large systemic doses over time, since the peptide carries copper. It may also lower zinc, which balances copper in the body.
- CautionInjection site redness or irritation(common)s1
- CautionTemporary skin flushing(uncommon)s1
- CautionMild nausea or headache(uncommon)s1
8.Interactions & stacking risks
These treat copper overload conditions. GHK-Cu adds copper, so it works against them.
Copper and zinc balance each other, so ongoing copper can lower zinc over time.
- InfoGLOW and KLOW blends
GHK-Cu is the copper part of both the GLOW and KLOW blends. See the related entries below.
9.Contraindications / who should avoid
- SeriousWilson's disease or other copper overload conditions
The body cannot clear extra copper safely, so added copper can build up and cause harm.
- SeriousPregnancy or breastfeeding
No safety data in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
10.COA & purity notes
| Common adulterants | underdosed or mislabeled vials, plain GHK sold as GHK-Cu, with little or no copper, product sold as a blend without clear amounts of each peptide |
|---|---|
| Mislabeling | Real GHK-Cu turns blue when mixed. A clear solution can mean there is little or no copper. It is also sold inside the GLOW and KLOW blends, where the amount of each peptide should be listed. |
| Notes | Sold both as a cosmetic ingredient and as injectable research material. The injectable form is unregulated. |
11.Sources
- [s1]International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2018). Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data. review link
- [s2]Wound healing study (rat model) (1993). GHK-Cu increases collagen synthesis and extracellular matrix accumulation in a rat wound model. preclinical animal
Last reviewed 2026-07-07 · status: reviewed