GHK-Cu

GHK-Cu is a small three-amino-acid peptide bound to a copper ion. The peptide itself, GHK, was first isolated from human plasma in 1973 by Loren Pickart, who later identified that the active species was the copper-bound form. It exists naturally in your skin and falls with age.

Most of the rigorous published work on GHK-Cu is in dermatology and cosmetic literature, and it focuses on the topical form. Studies have documented effects on collagen and decorin synthesis, dermal extracellular matrix remodeling, and hair follicle activity. We use both topical preparations and the injectable subcutaneous form, depending on what a patient is after.

Injectable systemic GHK-Cu has a thinner evidence base than the topical work. Most of what we know about injectable use is from clinical experience and from the topical mechanism literature, not from large randomized human trials of the injection.

We dose 5 days on and 2 days off, in cycles of 8 to 12 weeks. Skin remodeling is a slow process. The cycle length is set to match the time it takes for collagen and dermal matrix changes to show up.

Most patients use a topical GHK-Cu serum alongside the injectable, especially around microneedling and laser sessions. The topical work is where the strongest published evidence sits, and pairing the two is how most patients structure their plan in this clinic.

If a patient has been treated for a copper-related condition, or has Wilson’s disease, we don’t use this peptide. The copper component is a small dose, but the principle still applies.

Skin work compounds. This protocol is often used to supplement other services like SkinPen microneedling, RF microneedling, ProFractional, Contour TRL, and our broader laser series.