GHK-CU Skin Cream: How this Copper Peptide Reverses Skin Aging

This is One of the Few Peptides that Can be Applied Topically

Kevin Alghul
7 min readJun 12, 2023
(Courtesy of cottonbro studio)

GHK-Cu copper peptide sounds like something out of Star Wars or some other sci-fi movie.

But instead, it’s something found in US.

Peptides are pieces of proteins that are smaller than 50 amino acids, and exist naturally within the human body.

In this case, it’s three amino acids that combine with the essential mineral copper.

And this peptide-mineral complex produces amazing benefits for the body!

From healing wounds, regenerating tissue, and rebuilding collagen, GHK-Cu is a verified anti-aging compound.

Especially, if you want to look younger.

But, where can you get it? Does it require a prescription?

Does it come in delivery methods other than creams?

All will be explained.

But first, a deeper dive into what GHK-Cu is…

What is GHK-Cu Copper Peptide?

(Courtesy of Chokniti Khongchum)

The GHK part of this molecule is the peptide component.

It stands for glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine, which are three amino acids.

This also means it is a tripeptide (i.e. a peptide consisting of 3 amino acids).

Cu stands for copper, which is an essential mineral involved in numerous vital processes. Including:

  • bone formation
  • immune system health
  • building tissues
  • making energy

Also, because of copper, ghk-cu in it’s raw powdered form has a lovely blue tint. As shown in the image above.

Dr. Loren Pickart is credited with discovering ghk-cu in 1973 when he isolated it from the protein albumin.

Dr. Pickart discovered ghk-cu’s incredible rejuvenating effects by doing experiments on the liver tissue of older people.

When the older liver tissue was exposed to the blood of younger people, the older tissue started producing the same proteins as younger ones.

And it was concluded that ghk-cu was the primary reason for the rejuvenating effects.

And as the authors of a study from 2018 report:

The human copper-binding peptide GHK-Cu (glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine) is a small, naturally occurring tri-peptide present in human plasma that also can be released from tissues in case of an injury. Since its discovery in 1973, GHK-Cu established itself as a powerful protective and regenerative ingredient

Ghk-cu is well documented to be a proven way to slow down visible and non-visible signs of aging.

But what signs exactly?

What can ghk-cu do for your health?

Health Benefits of GHK-CU

(Courtesy of Ali Pazani)

GHK-cu is best known for being sold in skin creams that drastically reduce the signs of aging.

And while that is something most people 40 and up could benefit from, ghk-cu can do A LOT more for your health.

From acting as an antioxidant and anti inflammatory, to healing nagging injuries, and creating new blood vessels, ghk-cu is a potent regenerative peptide.

But since looking young, vibrant, and beautiful is on most people’s minds, let’s start there.

Rejuvenates Skin

(Courtesy of Daniel Xavier)

In a study from 2016 on women between 40 and 65, researchers discovered that applying ghk-cu skin cream twice a day greatly increased collagen and elastin.

The authors of the study noted that:

GHK-Cu increased both collagen and elastin production. An increase of the mRNA expression ratio of TIMPs to MMPs was associated with an increase in collagen/elastin production. Application of GHK-Cu in nano-carriers to facial skin of volunteers significantly reduced wrinkle volume (31.6%; p=0.004) compared to Matrixyl® 3000, and significantly y reduced wrinkle volume (55.8%; p<0.001) and wrinkle depth (32.8%; p=0.012) compared to control serum.

That’s just one of many studies that definitively proves ghk-cu is 100% effective at rejuvenating facial appearances.

As the authors of this study from 2018 report:

A number of placebo-controlled clinical studies found GHK-Cu to improve skin quality in women around the age of 50. A study of collagen production determined by studying skin biopsy samples using immunohistological techniques found that after applying creams to the thighs for one month, GHK-peptides had a significant effect on collagen production. Increases were found in 70% of the women treated with GHK-Cu, in contrast to 50% treated with the vitamin C cream, and 40% treated with retinoic acid

And if you really want to rejuvenate your appearance, you may want to grow your hair back too.

Believe it or not, ghk-cu can help with that too.

Assists in Hair Regrowth

(Courtesy of John Diez)

Ghk-cu helps stop hair loss and regrow new follicles through a few mechanisms:

  • increasing follicle size
  • inhibiting follicle death
  • stimulate blood flow to the scalp
  • increasing scalp fat cells through increasing collagen
  • prolonging the growth cycle of hair follicles

As the medical professionals at TransformYou mention:

Copper peptide GHK-Cu and its analogs were found to strongly stimulate hair growth. The efficiency of the synthetic analog of GHK-Cu was similar to that of 5% minoxidil.

And a study from 1993 confirmed this statement by adding:

A copper binding peptide had the effect of follicular enlargement on the back skin of fuzzy rats, covering the vellus follicles; the effect was similar to that of topical minoxidil

We all care about how we look and ghk-cu is one of the best and easiest ways to maintain a youthful appearance.

But optimal health is a lot more than just looking great.

It’s also about protecting our DNA.

And once again, it seems crazy, but ghk-cu is a major needle-mover in this department, too.

DNA & Wound Repair

(Courtesy of Fayette Reynolds M.S)

The authors of a review of the academic literature on ghk-cu found that it was able to rejuvenate fibroblasts that had been exposed to radiation.

Fibroblasts are cells that form connective tissue within the body.

They added that:

However, the irradiated fibroblasts treated with GHK showed much faster growth that was similar to the normal (non-irradiated control cells). In addition, GHK-treated irradiated fibroblasts showed higher production of growth factors, which are essential for wound healing [31].

The authors also extrapolated that since excessive radiation damages DNA, ghk-cu must also be repairing DNA within the fibroblasts.

They combined their findings with other research and found that:

Studies using the Broad Institute’s Connectivity map found that GHK significantly increased the expression of DNA repair genes with 47 genes stimulated and 5 genes suppressed (more than or equal to a 50% increase or decrease) [22]

How to Use GHK-CU to Improve Your Health

(Courtesy of Andrea Piacquadio)

How you use ghk-cu depends on your goals.

If skin regeneration, collagen production, and hair regrowth are you goals then you’ll want to apply a cream to your skin and scalp.

However, if you want to heal nagging injuries, reduce inflammation, and revitalize your DNA, you have two options:

  • oral capsules
  • subcutaneous injections

These delivery methods provide systemic healing throughout the entire body, and will still improve the appearance of your skin.

Subcutaneous injections are the most efficacious way of reaping the many benefits of ghk-cu, but if you’re not comfortable with that oral capsules are a close second.

Where to Get GHK-CU

(Courtesy of Tima Miroshnichenko)

Your doctor or healthcare professional should be the first place you look to get ghk-cu or any other peptides.

However, most doctors aren’t yet educated or even familiar with peptides.

That being said, ghk-cu skin creams and hair regrowth formulations can be purchased online without a prescription.

Also, there are several research chemical companies that sell ghk-cu for research purposes only.

So if you’re engaged in research on peptides and you can prove it, you can legally buy ghk-cu online through a reliable research chemical company.

Lastly, if you want to inject ghk-cu, you have to know how to:

  • reconstitute the peptide powder with bacteriostatic water
  • calculate how to inject the right amount of every time
  • how to store reconstituted peptides for long term use

If you’re like most people these subjects are confusing, which is why they prevent most people from using injectable peptides.

But don’t let that stop you.

Best selling author and men’s health expert Jay Campbell has produced a course with everything you need to know about using peptides.

<I’m in no way affiliated with Jay Campbell or this program and I don’t receive any payment should you decide to purchase the course>

But, I have used this course and it is the definitive guide on how to properly use peptides.

Here’s the link

GHK-CU: A Potent Peptide with Amazing Rejuvenating Effects

(Courtesy of Min An)

We live in an amazing time.

We no longer have to accept getting old and declining health.

Thanks to verified rejuvenating compounds like ghk-cu we can keep, or restore, our youthful appearance.

While strengthening are bones, connective tissue, and even our DNA.

Don’t let annoying injuries, inflammation, or a receding hair line keep you from living your best life.

If you want to slow down the constantly ticking hands of time, pick up ghk-cu and let it rejuvenate you…inside and out.

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Kevin Alghul

I've been into exercise, nutrition, and healthy living for almost 20 years. I'm into everything from meditation to muscle-ups, and from psychedelics to peptides