pepdex
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№ 005

GHK-Cu

Copper-binding tripeptide. Supports collagen, wound healing, and hair follicles. Topical or sub-q.

Skin
Evidence: Limited
Half-life
~2 hours systemic
Route
Sub-q (systemic) or topical (skin)
Cycle
4-6 weeks
Schedule
Daily
In plain English

GHK-Cu is a tiny copper-binding peptide your skin already has — but levels drop with age. Used to support collagen, wound healing, and hair follicles. Topical for skin, sub-q injection for systemic effect on connective tissue.

Status & legality
Natty?
Grey area

Naturally occurring in skin, but supplementing exogenously typically disqualifies a strict natty claim.

FDA
Not approved

Approved as a cosmetic ingredient. Not approved as a drug.

Compounding
Category 1

Compounding pharmacies may prepare under physician prescription (post Feb 2026 reclassification, pending formal FDA publication).

WADA
Not listed
Prescribed

Not prescribed; widely used as topical skincare ingredient.

Who it's for

  • →Anyone running an aggressive skin/anti-aging routine
  • →Healing stack add-on for connective tissue
  • →Users targeting hair follicle support

What to expect

  1. Week 1

    Nothing visible. Minor flush at injection.

  2. Week 4

    Skin tone evens out for most users. Healing rate noticeably faster.

  3. Week 8

    Visible skin changes. Hair density slower to show.

Dosing protocol

Sub-q: 1-2mg daily, 4-6 week cycles. Topical: 0.05-0.2% concentration, 1-2x daily.

Stacks well with

BPC-157 + TB-500 connective-tissue stack
Standalone for skin / hair

Side effects

01Injection-site flush
02Mild metallic taste shortly after dose
03Rare: headache

When NOT to use

  • ⚠Wilson's disease or copper metabolism disorders
  • ⚠Active copper supplementation

Bloodwork to monitor

  • • Serum copper if running long-term sub-q

Common mistakes

  • • Dosing topically and sub-q simultaneously without tracking total copper
  • • Storing reconstituted vial in plastic (use glass)
  • • Expecting fast skin results — visible changes take 4-8 weeks

Educational only. User-specific dosing is between you and a qualified provider.

Frequently asked

What is GHK-Cu?+
GHK-Cu is a tiny copper-binding peptide your skin already has — but levels drop with age. Used to support collagen, wound healing, and hair follicles. Topical for skin, sub-q injection for systemic effect on connective tissue.
Is GHK-Cu FDA approved?+
Approved as a cosmetic ingredient. Not approved as a drug.
Is GHK-Cu banned by WADA?+
GHK-Cu is not currently on the WADA prohibited list.
Are you still natty after taking GHK-Cu?+
Grey area. Naturally occurring in skin, but supplementing exogenously typically disqualifies a strict natty claim.
Do doctors prescribe GHK-Cu?+
Not prescribed; widely used as topical skincare ingredient.
What's the typical dose of GHK-Cu?+
Sub-q: 1-2mg daily, 4-6 week cycles. Topical: 0.05-0.2% concentration, 1-2x daily.
What are the side effects of GHK-Cu?+
Common side effects include: Injection-site flush; Mild metallic taste shortly after dose; Rare: headache. Less common effects and full safety details are on the entry page.
How long until GHK-Cu starts working?+
Nothing visible. Minor flush at injection.