Human topical cosmetic studies
- Reported quantity
- 0.05% to 2% GHK-Cu in cream or serum base
- Frequency
- Once or twice daily
- Study duration
- 8–12 weeks to endpoint measurement
Most published facial studies sit between 0.1% and 1%.
Protocols · Regenerative
GHK-Cu: literature-reported ranges
GHK-Cu is one of the few peptides in this list with a substantial human literature, and almost all of it is topical dermatology and cosmetic-science work measuring collagen density, wrinkle depth and wound closure.
Read this first
Every figure on this page is a range reported in published literature or in a publicly documented study protocol. It is a record of what researchers used, not a recommendation, a therapeutic protocol, or advice. Peptide Intel Hub is an independent publication, sells nothing, and describes these compounds as in-vitro research reagents only.
Compound at a glance
- Class
- Copper-binding tripeptide
- Reported half-life
- Rapid plasma clearance; skin studies measure residence in tissue rather than serum
- Routes used in the literature
- Overwhelmingly topical in the published literature
- Also written as
- —
What the published studies reported
Each row below describes one body of work. The model and population are part of the figure — a rodent per-kilogram quantity and a human trial quantity are not comparable.
Human scalp and hair-follicle studies
- Reported quantity
- Typically 1–3 mg/mL in solution
- Frequency
- Daily application
- Study duration
- 12–24 weeks
Copper peptide scalp work is smaller and less consistently controlled than the facial literature.
In-vitro fibroblast culture
- Reported quantity
- 1 nM to 10 µM in media
- Frequency
- Single or repeated media change
- Study duration
- 24–72 hours
Collagen and metalloproteinase expression are the usual readouts.
Dosage chart
These figures match the published chart for this compound on peptidedosages.com, including the reconstitution volume, resulting concentration, insulin-syringe units and the staged schedule. Educational reference only — not instructions, and not medical advice.
GHK-Cu · 100 mg Vial
This GHK-Cu dosage chart explains a 100 mg vial prepared to a final volume of 3.0 mL for a concentration of 33.33 mg/mL. The GHK-Cu dosage protocol examples below cover 1.0 mg, 1.5 mg, and 2.0 mg amounts, with matching U-100 syringe units, reconstitution steps, supplies, and research context.
- Reconstitute
- Prepare the 100 mg vial to a final volume of 3.0 mL for a concentration of 33.33 mg/mL.
- Research protocol range
- The tables below cover 1.0 mg, 1.5 mg, and 2.0 mg using the standard and alternative research-use schedules.
- Easy measuring
- At 33.33 mg/mL, 1 U-100 unit = 0.01 mL = approximately 333.3 mcg.
- Quick conversions
- 1.0 mg = 3 units, 1.5 mg = 4.5 units, and 2.0 mg = 6 units.
Standard / Conservative Approach (3 mL = 33.33 mg/mL; 5 days/week)
| Week/Phase | Dose per Injection | Units (per injection) (mL) |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-4 | 1.0 mg (1000 mcg) | 3 units (0.03 mL) |
| Weeks 5-8 | 1.5 mg (1500 mcg) | 4.5 units (0.045 mL) |
| Weeks 9-12+ | 2.0 mg (2000 mcg) | 6 units (0.06 mL) |
Mixed with 3 ml of bacteriostatic water
The same arithmetic for every vial size GHK-Cu is supplied in, using a fixed 3 ml of bacteriostatic water. One unit on a U-100 insulin syringe is 0.01 ml, so the unit column below is simply the volume that carries the reported amount. Educational arithmetic only — not instructions, and not medical advice.
GHK-Cu · 3 ml bacteriostatic water
| Vial size | Concentration | Per 1 unit |
|---|---|---|
| 50 mg | 16.67 mg/ml | 167 mcg |
| 100 mg | 33.33 mg/ml | 333 mcg |
No single reported amount applies to this compound, so only the concentration and the value of one unit are shown. Only the vial sizes this compound is actually supplied in are shown, and every figure assumes exactly 3 ml of bacteriostatic water. For any other volume, use the reconstitution calculator.
Reconstitution maths
Powder is water soluble and gives a characteristic deep blue solution. A 50 mg vial in 10 mL of sterile water gives 5 mg/mL, which dilutes into a 0.5% topical base at a 1:10 ratio.
Open the reconstitution calculatorHow to read these figures
- Copper content is part of the molecule — a purity certificate should confirm the copper complex, not just the tripeptide.
- The blue colour fading toward green or clear suggests degradation of the copper complex.
- Topical vehicle changes penetration substantially; percentage alone does not determine delivered quantity.
Sources and citations
These are the published records the figures on this page are drawn from. Each one describes what researchers administered, in which model or population, and over what period. Quantities reported in a study are specific to that study's design and are not transferable guidance.
- [1]Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data
Pickart L, Margolina A. · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2018 · PMID 29986520
Review summarizing topical and injected GHK-Cu (copper tripeptide) concentrations used across skin, wound-healing, and gene-expression studies, typically 0.01-1% topical formulations.
View the record
Search the databases yourself
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All research protocolsPeptide Intel Hub is an independent publication and has no affiliation, ownership or commercial relationship with the suppliers listed. We sell nothing and take no payments — links are editorial references only.