Skin & Anti-Aging
GHK-Cu
GHK-Cu — Glycyl-L-Histidyl-L-Lysine Copper (the copper peptide)
Skin quality, collagen, and hair
Quick answer
A 50 mg vial with 3 mL of water makes 16.7 mg/mL. A 1 mg dose is 6 units. Once a day or every other day, 8 to 12 weeks.
- Mix it
- 50 mg vial + 3 mL water
- Draw
- About 6 units on a U-100 syringe
- How often
- Once a day, or every other day
- How it is given
- Under the skin, or applied to the skin in a cream.
- How long it lasts
- Short in the blood, but the copper stays in the tissue longer.
- Store it
- Refrigerate and keep out of light. Use within about 4 weeks.
What it is
Full name: GHK-Cu — Glycyl-L-Histidyl-L-Lysine Copper (the copper peptide). Most people write it as GHK-Cu.
GHK-Cu is a small peptide that carries a copper atom. Research looks at collagen production, skin firmness, wound healing, and hair follicle activity.
What it is studied for
- Collagen and skin firmness
- Fine lines
- Scar and wound appearance
- Hair thickness
These are things researchers study. They are not promised results.
Dosing at a glance
These are the amounts used most often in research. Always start at the low end.
- Vial size
- 50 mg or 100 mg
- Dose range
- 1 mg to 2 mg per dose
- How often
- Once a day, or every other day
- Cycle length
- 8 to 12 weeks
- Mix with
- Bacteriostatic water (also called BAC water or reconstitution solution).
- Storage
- Refrigerate and keep out of light. Use within about 4 weeks.
Week by week
A common way researchers step the dose up. Stay at each step until it feels easy.
| When | Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-2 | 1 mg every other day | Watch for site reactions. |
| Weeks 3-8 | 1-2 mg daily | Main phase. |
| Weeks 9-12 | 1 mg every other day | Taper, then take a break. |
This is a reference schedule, not a prescription. Start at the lowest step.
Mixing it
A common setup for GHK-Cu is a 50 mg vial with 3 mL of bacteriostatic water.
That makes 16.67 mg per mL. A 1 mg dose is about 6 units on a standard insulin syringe.
Bacteriostatic water is all you need here. Acetic acid is only for powders that will not dissolve. See the mixing guide.
Open this in the calculatorWhat to watch for
- Blue tint at the injection site, which is the copper and fades
- Skin sensitivity if used with strong retinoids
Stop and speak to a clinician if anything feels wrong. See the safety page.
Common questions
Why does my skin turn blue at the site?
That is the copper. It fades in a day or two and is expected.
Injection or cream?
Cream for surface skin. Injection is what research uses for deeper changes.
Can I use it with retinol?
Use them at different times of day. Together they can irritate.