GHK-Cu
Skin / tissue (copper peptide)
Status & caution. Long used as a cosmetic ingredient (topical). Among the 12 peptides removed from the Category 2 injectable-compounding restriction list in April 2026, but scheduled for the SECOND PCAC meeting (before the end of February 2027), not the July session. Topical cosmetic use is a separate, long-established lane from injectable use. Topical GHK-Cu has the cleanest safety record here; injectable systemic use is far less characterised and raises copper-balance questions.
At a glance
Indications & what it's studied for
Topical: skin firmness, wound healing, anti-aging, hair support. Reported systemic/injectable use targets tissue repair and inflammation.
Contraindications & cautions
Wilson's disease or copper-overload states; avoid combining topical copper with strong actives that can chelate or oxidise it.
Commonly reported dosing
Reported, not recommended. The following describes what appears in research literature and community use. It is not a protocol, and unapproved peptides have no validated human dosing.
Cosmetic topical concentrations are low; injectable 'protocols' are community-derived and unvalidated, with copper accumulation a theoretical concern.
Routes of administration
Topical (creams/serums); subcutaneous injection in community use.
Don't combine with
Topically, avoid layering with high-strength vitamin C / strong acids simultaneously (formulation conflicts).
Reported to stack with
Topically combined with general skincare; systemically sometimes paired with BPC-157/TB-500 for tissue goals.
Note: "stacking" combines multiple agents and multiplies unknowns; popularity of a combination is not evidence of its safety.
What the research actually shows
Decent in-vitro and topical clinical evidence for skin; injectable systemic evidence is limited.
Before acting on anything here, see Safety & the grey market and how to read a COA.