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Skin and hair · Compound

GHK-Cu (Topical)

Copper tripeptide GHK-Cu in cream, serum or gel form, studied in two small topical human trials on diabetic foot ulcers and skin after laser resurfacing.

Philippines Peptides editorial deskUpdated Trial data checked 23 September 20265 min read

The strongest evidence found for GHK-Cu (Topical) comes from small human studies, and every finding below carries its evidence level.

What is GHK-Cu (Topical)

Topical GHK-Cu is the copper tripeptide GHK-Cu (glycine, histidine and lysine bound to copper) formulated into creams, serums or gels for application to the skin. It is the same compound covered on the main GHK-Cu page. Browse the full peptide library for related compounds.

Both completed human randomised trials of GHK-Cu identified in Europe PMC were topical: a 1994 trial of a GHK-Cu gel on diabetic foot ulcers, whose size and phase the abstract does not give, and a trial of 13 patients after laser skin resurfacing that found no objective benefit. The evidence level for GHK-Cu is small human studies.

How it works

Tissue remodelling: in cell and animal studies, GHK stimulates both the production and the breakdown of collagen and related skin matrix molecules, and adjusts the enzymes that remodel tissue.

Fibroblast growth: in cell culture, GHK-Cu shortened the doubling time of normal and irradiated human skin fibroblasts and raised their early output of growth factors.

Skin after laser resurfacing: in 13 randomised patients after laser skin resurfacing, GHK-Cu skin care made no measurable difference to redness, wrinkles or blinded ratings, though patients rated their skin quality higher.

Benefits studied

  • Diabetic foot ulcer closure

    Small human studies

    A randomised, evaluator-blinded trial of a topical GHK-Cu gel on diabetic foot ulcers reported median closure of 98.5% against 60.8% with an inactive gel; the abstract gives neither the trial's size nor its phase. Source: Wound Repair Regen 1994

  • Skin after laser resurfacing (no measured benefit)

    Small human studies

    In 13 randomised patients recovering from laser skin resurfacing, GHK-Cu skin care made no measurable difference to redness, wrinkles or blinded ratings, although patients rated their own skin higher. Source: Arch Facial Plast Surg 2006

  • Ligament graft healing

    Animal and cell

    In an animal study of knee ligament reconstruction in rats, GHK-Cu reduced knee laxity at 6 weeks, but the difference was gone by 12 weeks. Source: J Orthop Res 2015

  • Fibroblast growth

    Animal and cell

    In cell culture, GHK-Cu shortened the doubling time of normal and irradiated human skin fibroblasts and raised their early growth-factor output. This is cell evidence only. Source: Arch Facial Plast Surg 2005

Side effects reported

No human trial in the datasets reports adverse-event rates for GHK-Cu, whose human evidence is limited to small human studies (2 completed randomised trials identified). Without controlled data, its safety in people is unknown rather than established.

Regulatory status

FDA Philippines
Not publishedCould not be established: the FDA Philippines verification portal search timed out on 23 September 2026, retried the same day in a browser with the same result.
US FDA
No record foundDrugs@FDA returned no approved or tentatively approved application for this substance. Drugs@FDA does not list investigational products. Separately, the FDA lists it on its page of bulk drug substances for compounding that may present significant safety risks (current as of 22 April 2026); that page concerns compounding, not approval.
European Medicines Agency
No record foundNo row for this substance in the EMA medicines report generated 22 September 2026. That report does not cover national authorisations in EU member states.
Next milestone
No sponsor identified in any record read.

Checked 23 September 2026. Primary source

How Philippine registration and prescription rules work, and what an unregistered product is under the law, is covered in the regulation hub, and every compound's status side by side is on the status page. This is general information, not legal advice.

Who should not use GHK-Cu (Topical)

FAQ

What evidence exists for topical GHK-Cu?

The evidence for GHK-Cu is rated small human studies. Two completed human randomised trials were identified in Europe PMC, and both tested topical GHK-Cu: one on diabetic foot ulcers and one on skin after laser resurfacing. Findings on ligament healing come from rats, and findings on fibroblast growth from cell culture.

What did the diabetic foot ulcer trial find?

In a randomised, evaluator-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of a GHK-Cu gel on diabetic foot ulcers, median ulcer closure was 98.5% with the gel against 60.8% with the inactive gel. The abstract does not state the trial's size or phase.

Did topical GHK-Cu improve skin after laser resurfacing?

Not on measured outcomes. In 13 randomised patients after laser skin resurfacing, GHK-Cu skin care made no measurable difference to redness, wrinkles or blinded ratings, though patients rated their skin quality higher.

Is GHK-Cu registered with FDA Philippines?

Its FDA Philippines status could not be established: the FDA Philippines verification portal search timed out on 23 September 2026, and a same-day retry in a browser gave the same result. In the US, Drugs@FDA returned no approved or tentatively approved application for it, and the European Medicines Agency medicines report has no row for it. See regulatory status by compound.

Where to get GHK-Cu (Topical) in the Philippines

The supply index covers what to ask a seller before paying, and why quoted prices vary so widely.

View Supply Index

Risk · Disclosure · Editorial Status

This page is editorial information for adults researching peptide therapy. It is not medical advice, not a prescription, and not an endorsement of any specific product, supplier, or protocol. Side effects can be serious and individual response varies. Talk to a licensed physician (ideally one with peptide-specific clinical experience) before starting any compound, adjusting a dose, or discontinuing therapy.

In the Philippines, GLP-1 medications are prescription-only under FDA Philippines regulation. Research-grade peptides occupy a regulatory gray area: import for personal research use is generally tolerated, but the Bureau of Customs reserves the right to inspect and detain shipments. Do not import for resale.

Editorial Status
Non-clinical
Affiliation
Not a clinic · Not a pharmacy
Last Updated
September 24, 2026

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