Skin · Dosing reference

GHK-Cu dosage

What the human evidence does and does not show, how long studies ran, and the arithmetic for working with vials.

Not approved — research use onlyBLimited human dataNone established

Full research page Cycle-length evidence Compare Prefer Amiravo on Google

Regulatory status: Not approved — research use only
Human amounts: None established in humans
Route studied: —
Frequency: Not established
Half-life: Not established
Evidence grade: Grade B · Limited human data
Vial sizes on the market: 50 mg · 100 mg
Other forms seen: Topical sheet mask 25 mL (with HLA)

What GHK-Cu is

GHK-Cu is the copper(II) complex of the naturally occurring tripeptide glycyl-histidyl-lysine. It has been examined in cell, tissue and animal models of wound repair and gene expression, with only small human studies of topical cosmetic products. It is not an approved drug.

GHK is a tripeptide that binds copper(II); it has been proposed to act as the GHK-Cu complex in tissue repair and skin remodeling ^2. Plasma levels of GHK have been reported to decline with age ^2. Matrix remodeling and cell signaling (cells and animals) In cell and tissue models, GHK was reported to stimulate collagen, decorin and glycosaminoglycan synthesis and to modulate metalloproteinases and their inhibitors… How it works →

Key evidence

Miller et al., Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery · 2006 · Humans (13 patients, topical skin-care products)
No significant between-group difference in erythema resolution or objective wrinkle and skin-quality scores; patient questionnaire scores for skin quality were higher with GHK-Cu (P = .04). ⁵
Wang et al., Skin Research and Technology · 2026 · Cells, human skin explants and humans (topical face cream)
The combination reduced inflammatory cytokine secretion in stimulated macrophages and was reported to decrease wrinkles in the clinical component; effects of GHK-Cu alone in the clinical component were not isolated. ⁶
Fu et al., Journal of Orthopaedic Research · 2015 · Rats (ACL reconstruction)
Smaller knee laxity at 6 weeks in GHK-Cu groups, with no significant difference at 12 weeks; ultimate load and histology did not differ. ⁷

All studies on the research page

What the human evidence shows

No approved or established human dose

We searched PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov and found no human studies that administered GHK-Cu. The research described on its page is from cells or animals, and animal amounts do not translate to people.

How long did human studies run?

No human study durations are recorded for GHK-Cu.

Cycle-length evidence for GHK-Cu

GHK-Cu draw calculator

Pick the vial strength and the water added, enter an amount, and see the concentration, the units to draw and how many draws the vial holds. Arithmetic only.

1 · Vial strength

sizes on the market

2 · Water added

3 · Amount per draw

4 · Syringe

Your mix

100 mg + 2 mL water = 50 mg/mL

10 units holds 5 mg

Draw toEnter an amount in step 3

U-100 syringe · 100 units = 1 mL

Computed from your inputs. Not a dose or a recommendation.

Compare water volumes for this vialShow

More water = lower concentration = a larger, easier-to-measure draw. Tap a row to use it.

Water	mg/mL	Draw
0.5 mL	200	—
1 mL	100	—
1.5 mL	66.67	—
2 mL	50	—
2.5 mL	40	—
3 mL	33.33	—
5 mL	20	—

Supplies and handling

Lyophilized vial
Sealed vial with the freeze-dried cake. Check the label, lot and the certificate of analysis before opening.
Sterile diluent
The diluent named on the product documentation. Bacteriostatic water contains benzyl alcohol; sterile water does not.
Graduated syringes
Sized to the volume being measured. U-100 insulin syringes are graduated in units where 100 units = 1 mL.
Alcohol prep pads
For wiping vial stoppers before each puncture.
Nitrile gloves
Clean gloves for aseptic handling.
Sharps container
Puncture-resistant container for used needles.

Step-by-step reconstitution guide Storage and transport accessories

Storage

Handling depends on the supplier's form (lyophilized powder or solution). Follow the supplier's documentation for temperature, light and moisture protection, and avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Metal-chelating buffers can alter the copper complex, so check compatibility with the supplier's data.

Lyophilized (unmixed) vials: typically stored cold and dry, away from light, as the documentation directs. Many are stable longer frozen.
Reconstituted vials: typically refrigerated (about 2–8 °C), protected from light and not frozen.
Bacteriostatic water contains benzyl alcohol, which inhibits bacterial growth in multi-use vials; sterile water has no preservative.

Handling mistakes and troubleshooting

Added the wrong volume of diluent: The concentration changes, not the amount of compound in the vial. Recalculate with the volume actually added and relabel the vial.
Shook the vial and it foamed: Let it settle in the refrigerator. Foam is a sign of agitation; some peptides aggregate when shaken. Note it on the label.
The solution is cloudy or has particles: Do not use it. Cloudiness can indicate incomplete dissolution, contamination or degradation. Record the lot and contact the supplier with the certificate of analysis.
The powder cake looks melted or shrunken before reconstitution: This can indicate the vial was exposed to heat or moisture. Record the lot and condition on arrival.
Liquid sprayed back when the needle was removed: Pressure built up in the vial. Withdraw a small volume of air while adding diluent to keep pressure neutral.

Regulatory status

Status: Not approved by the FDA as a drug for any indication; a DailyMed name search for this entry returned no dedicated GHK-Cu drug label ^9. It appears as an ingredient in cosmetic products ^2. No regulator-approved therapeutic use was identified in the sources reviewed ^3.
United States (FDA): GHK-Cu is not FDA-approved as a drug for any indication; a DailyMed name search for this entry returned no dedicated GHK-Cu drug label ^9. It is used as an ingredient in cosmetic products ^2.
Sport (WADA): The WADA 2026 Prohibited List text reviewed (sections S0 and S2.2) does not name GHK-Cu among its listed examples ^10. Athlete status therefore is not determined here, and the List and the current WADA guidance should be consulted directly ^10.

Status varies by country and changes over time. How we describe regulatory status.

GHK-Cu compared with related compounds

Compound	Status	Evidence	Human amounts	Half-life
GHK-Cu	Not approved — research use only	B	None established	—
Afamelanotide	FDA-approved	A	FDA label	Approximately 15 hours (apparent, from t
Matrixyl	Not approved — research use only	B	None established	Not located in the sources reviewed. In
Argireline	Not approved — research use only	B	None established	Not located in the sources reviewed. Rel
SNAP-8	Not approved — research use only	—	None established	—
Melanotan I	Not approved — research use only	—	None established	—

Combinations that include GHK-Cu

Frequently asked questions

What doses of GHK-Cu have been studied in humans?

None that establish an amount. GHK-Cu is not approved anywhere and we found no human studies that administered it. Amiravo does not publish community or vendor figures.

Is there an established GHK-Cu cycle length?

No. We found no human studies that report treatment duration for GHK-Cu.

How much bacteriostatic water should be added to a GHK-Cu vial?

There is no compound-specific volume. The diluent volume only sets the concentration: concentration = mass in the vial ÷ volume added (for example, 10 mg in 2 mL gives 5 mg/mL). The calculator on this page shows the arithmetic for any combination.

How many units is a given amount on an insulin syringe?

On a U-100 syringe, 100 units = 1 mL. Units for an amount = amount ÷ (concentration per unit). The calculator converts any amount you enter at the concentration you choose; a unit is a volume mark, not an amount of compound.

Is GHK-Cu FDA-approved?

Not approved — research use only. Not approved by the FDA as a drug for any indication; a DailyMed name search for this entry returned no dedicated GHK-Cu drug label ^9. It appears as an ingredient in cosmetic products ^2. No regulator-approved therapeutic use was identified in the sources reviewed ^3.

References

Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data Int J Mol Sci. 2018
GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration Biomed Res Int. 2015
GHK-Cu as a Bioactive Metallopeptide and Drug-Delivery Cargo: Coordination Chemistry, Formulation Science, Therapeutic Evidence, and a Translational Roadmap Pharmaceutics. 2026
A Systematic Review of the Mechanisms and Therapeutic Applications of GHK-Cu in Topical Microneedle Delivery: A Case for Expanded Clinical Trials Arch Intern Med Res. 2026
Effects of topical copper tripeptide complex on CO2 laser-resurfaced skin Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2006
Augmented Skin Beneficial Effects of Thermus Thermophilus and Bacillus Subtilis Mixed-Culture Ferment Extract by Tripeptide GHK-Cu Skin Res Technol. 2026
Tripeptide-copper complex GHK-Cu (II) transiently improved healing outcome in a rat model of ACL reconstruction J Orthop Res. 2015
Evaluation of the effects of topical tripeptide-copper complex and zinc oxide on open-wound healing in rabbits Vet Dermatol. 2006
DailyMed drug-label search for GHK (conducted for this entry) FDA DailyMed. 2026
WADA International Standard: Prohibited List 2026 (S0 and S2.2) WADA Prohibited List. 2026
PubChem CID 71587328 (prezatide copper) PubChem. 2026
The human tri-peptide GHK and tissue remodeling J Biomater Sci Polym Ed. 2008
The effects of topical tripeptide copper complex and helium-neon laser on wound healing in rabbits Vet Dermatol. 2008

Last reviewed October 22, 2026 by the Amiravo editorial team. Editorial policy · Report an error