Copper Tripeptide-1

Copper Tripeptide-1 (GHK-Cu) is a skin repairing ingredient known for its ability to boost collagen, improve firmness, and support skin regeneration.

It is a complex made up of a naturally occurring peptide (glycine-histidine-lysine) and copper, an essential trace element.

Benefits

• Wound healing & anti-inflammatory: This ingredient was originally used in FDA-approved treatments for wounds. GHK-Cu helps remodel damaged skin by breaking down collagen with structural defects and promoting healthy collagen growth.
• Collagen production: One study from 1998 found GHK-Cu outperformed vitamin C and tretinoin in stimulating collagen production after just one month (more on this below).
• Great for anti-aging: In addition to collagen, GHK-Cu boosts elastin, proteoglycans, and glycosaminoglycans. Proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans are essential components in your skin that play a role in hydration and elasticity; hyaluronic acid is a type of glycosaminoglycan.

Hair growth?

While studying wound healing, researchers noticed GHK-Cu stimulated hair follicle enlargement and growth by keeping hair in its active growth phase longer. This has made it a promising ingredient for hair regrowth treatments.

Some people have reported increased facial hair. While GHK-Cu can make your hair follicles bigger, it usually doesn’t turn soft, barely-visible facial hairs into thick, dark ones.

Copper overdose

Anecdotal reports suggest that overusing copper peptides might lead to premature aging due to excess free copper or enzyme imbalances. This claim isn’t backed by large-scale studies.

Studies

Unfortunately, there are limited human studies for this ingredient. While early results are promising, many studies are either small, in-vitro, or not rigorously controlled.

For example, there is a 1998 study that explored the effects of copper tripeptide, vitamin C, tretinoin, and melatonin on skin repair and collagen synthesis.

After one month, increased procollagen production was seen in 7 out of 10 participants using copper tripeptide (more than those using vitamin C, melatonin, or tretinoin.

While the study was exploratory, it offers early evidence that copper tripeptide may support collagen production. Larger, well-designed trials are still needed to confirm its potential and understand individual responses.

Read more about other common types of peptides here:

• Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
• Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
• Acetyl Hexapeptide-8