Peptides.info

Copper-binding tripeptide

GHK-Cu

Clinical

Also known as Copper tripeptide-1

The copper peptide that actually earned its place in skincare.

Cited sources
2
Human-tested claims
1 of 2
Best evidence
Tier 2 · Clinical
Status
Research-only

A naturally occurring tripeptide (Gly-His-Lys) that chelates copper and upregulates collagen, elastin, and repair signaling. It has the strongest human (topical) evidence of the 'cosmeceutical peptide' group — though those trials are small and short — plus a deep preclinical tissue-remodeling literature.

skinrepaircosmetic

How it works

GHK grabs a copper(II) ion to form the active GHK-Cu complex, first isolated from human plasma in the 1970s. In skin and cell studies this complex switches on genes for collagen, elastin, and wound repair, and helps remodel damaged tissue.

Sequence: GHKThe active species is the 1:1 GHK–Cu²⁺ chelate, not the bare peptide.

What it's studied for

One claim per card, each with its own tier and source. Tiers 1 and 2 are human data. Tiers 3 and 4 are not yet.

Safety & limitations

Topical use is generally well tolerated. The honest caveat is on evidence, not toxicity: the anti-aging trials are few, small, short, and often industry-linked.

[1]Pickart & Margolina, 2018 (review, PMC)(opens in a new tab)

Regulatory & legal status

Research-only

Used as a cosmetic ingredient, where efficacy claims are unregulated; it has no drug approval for anti-aging. Injectable 'research' GHK-Cu is research-only.

[1]Pickart & Margolina, 2018 (review, PMC)(opens in a new tab)

Frequently asked

Does GHK-Cu really work on skin?

There is real controlled human evidence for topical use — better than most 'peptide' skincare — but the trials are small and short-term, so treat it as promising rather than proven.

References

  1. [1]Pickart & Margolina, 2018 (review, PMC) (opens in a new tab)
  2. [2]ClinicalTrials.gov — cosmetic GHK study (NCT03103906) (opens in a new tab)

Written by Twenty Residues editorial. Medical review: pending; a named reviewer is being assigned.

Last updated September 19, 2026.

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Update history
  • 2026-09-19 — Sourced review — every claim checked against primary literature; sequence, regulatory status, safety, and FAQs added.