Copper Peptide · Copper Tripeptide-1
Anti-aging copper peptide — skin, hair, collagen, and wound repair.
FDA
Research Only
WADA
Not Listed
HALF-LIFE
Unknown
ROUTE
Topical, SubQ injection, or intranasal
SCHEDULE
Daily
In Plain English
Anti-aging copper peptide — skin, hair, collagen, and wound repair.
Status & Legality
NATTY?
No Test ExistsNo established test exists for this compound.
FDA
Research OnlyFor research purposes only. Not FDA approved.
WADA
Not ListedNot currently on WADA prohibited list.
COMPOUNDING
Not from pharmaciesNot available from licensed compounding pharmacies.
PRESCRIBED
Not prescribedNot prescribed in conventional medicine.
ROUTE
Topical, SubQ injection, or intranasalAdministration via topical, subq injection, or intranasal.
Skin rejuvenation
Hair regrowth
Wound healing
Collagen synthesis
GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring copper tripeptide found in human plasma that declines sharply with age. It upregulates over 1,000 human genes related to tissue repair and regeneration, stimulates collagen and elastin production, promotes hair follicle growth, and has potent antioxidant effects. Widely used topically and increasingly via injection.
Topical irritation (rare)
Temporary skin redness
Injection site reactions
Using only topically when systemic benefits are desired — topical barely penetrates beyond skin; SubQ injection is needed for collagen and systemic gene expression effects
Expecting hair regrowth without consistent daily application — requires 3–6 months of daily use; premature abandonment is the most common reason for failure
Not combining with microneedling for scalp applications — penetration without dermarolling is minimal at the follicle level
High-dose zinc supplements — zinc and copper compete for absorption; maintain the appropriate 15:1 zinc-to-copper ratio
Copper-lowering medications — may reduce the activity of GHK-Cu's copper-dependent mechanisms
No significant adverse drug interactions at standard doses
GHK-Cu is one of the most evidence-backed compounds in the longevity and repair space — upregulates over 1,000 human genes in published research. For skin and anti-aging, topical daily use is the accessible approach. For collagen remodeling and systemic effects, 1–2 mg SubQ 2–3×/week is meaningfully more effective than topical alone.
Stats
Sources & Studies
Pickart L, Margolina A., Int J Mol Sci, 2019