If you're into skincare beyond the usual creams, you've probably come across GHK-Cu. It's one of the few peptides that also has a real presence in commercial cosmetics, not just biohacking forums.
In short: GHK-Cu is a copper-bound tripeptide studied for its ties to collagen production and skin regeneration, available both as topical creams and serums and as the injectable version used in biohacking circles.
What is GHK-Cu?
GHK-Cu is a tripeptide (three amino acids) bound to a copper ion — hence the “Cu” in its name (copper's chemical symbol). It's naturally found in human plasma, saliva, and urine, and its concentration decreases with age, which has fueled interest in its role in skin aging.
What's researched about it
- Collagen production — its best-known association.
- Skin regeneration — studied in the context of wound healing.
- Antioxidant activity — the copper-peptide complex has activity related to oxidative stress.
- Hair health — a more recent area of interest, still with less backing than skin.
Unlike other peptides on this list, GHK-Cu has a longer track record in topical applications (creams, serums) besides the injectable route, which explains its presence in cosmetics.
Topical vs. injectable
It's important to distinguish between the two forms it appears in: in cosmetics, it usually comes formulated into serums or creams for direct application on the skin. In the use that circulates in biohacking communities, on the other hand, it's handled as a vial to reconstitute and inject, just like other peptides on this blog — and that's the use to which the same reconstitution and dosing care applies.
If you're going to reconstitute it
The same rules as always apply: calculate the concentration correctly based on the vial's mg and the water added, keep it refrigerated once reconstituted, and don't lose track of how long the vial has been open. Our reconstitution calculator works exactly the same for GHK-Cu as for any other peptide vial.
