What GHK-Cu is
GHK is a tripeptide (glycine, histidine, lysine) found naturally in human blood. It binds copper tightly, and the copper-bound form is GHK-Cu. Levels in the body decline with age.
GHK-Cu has been a common ingredient in skin and hair cosmetics for decades. More recently it has been sold in vials as an injectable. Those are very different uses with very different evidence behind them.
Regulatory status in 2026
GHK-Cu is not an approved drug. Topical cosmetic products can be sold without FDA approval as long as they don't claim to treat disease. Injectable GHK-Cu is a different matter.
Injectable GHK-Cu is placed in Category 2 of FDA's interim compounding list.
Injectable GHK-Cu is removed from Category 2. Topical GHK-Cu is removed from Category 1, ending the temporary allowance for compounding it.
GHK-Cu was not part of the July 2026 review. It is expected at a later advisory committee meeting, reported to be by early 2027.
GHK-Cu is not on the compounding list in any form.
Regulatory status can change. Check the sources linked at the bottom of this page before relying on anything here.
Claims vs. what the research shows
GHK-Cu has the most human data of the non-approved peptides here, but nearly all of it is topical, small, and often funded by cosmetic companies.
Reduces fine lines and improves skin firmness (topical).
Small human studies of creams and serums report improvement. Quality and independence of studies vary.
Animal or limited evidenceRegrows hair.
Limited, mostly lab and small cosmetic studies. Not established.
Insufficient dataInjecting it delivers whole-body anti-aging benefits.
No human studies of injected GHK-Cu.
Insufficient dataStorage and stability
Peptides break down with heat, light, moisture, and repeated freezing and thawing. Degraded product is one common reason two vials of the "same" peptide behave differently. These are general peptide handling practices. Your supplier's certificate of analysis or label takes priority. Reconstituted GHK-Cu is blue from the copper.
Sealed powder (lyophilized)
- Refrigerate at 36 to 46°F (2 to 8°C) for routine storage.
- Freezer is generally used for long-term storage.
- Keep in its original sealed vial, away from light.
- Let a cold vial reach room temperature before opening to limit condensation.
After reconstitution
- Keep refrigerated. Do not freeze.
- Protect from light. Clear glass lets it through.
- Opened multi-dose bacteriostatic water is typically discarded 28 days after first puncture.
- Log the mix date so you know the vial's age at a glance.
Light exposure is easy to overlook in a fridge door that opens dozens of times a day. VIALTIGHT is building stackable cases that block light from every side. See vialtight.com for updates.
Reconstitution math
Concentration is just the amount of peptide divided by the volume of water added. On a U-100 insulin syringe, 100 units equals 1 mL, so each unit is 0.01 mL. Enter what is on your vial label and what you added to see the concentration.
This shows concentration only. It is not a dosing recommendation. VialTracker runs this math for every vial you log and keeps it with the vial's history.
Safety flags
Product quality is unverified. Gray-market vials have been found underdosed, mislabeled, or contaminated. A certificate of analysis from the seller is not the same as independent testing.
Injectable safety is unknown. There is no human safety data for injected GHK-Cu, including how repeated copper exposure adds up.
Topical irritation. Like any active skin ingredient, it can cause irritation. Patch test new products.
FAQ
Is GHK-Cu legal?
Topical cosmetics containing it are legal to sell if they make no drug claims. Injectable GHK-Cu cannot be legally marketed for human use.
Is the cosmetic version the same as the vial?
The molecule can be the same, but cosmetic research does not tell you anything about injecting it.
Does VialTracker tell me what to take?
No. VialTracker organizes the information you enter and runs the math. It does not recommend doses, products, or protocols.