GHK-Cu before and after: what the research measured
Published GHK-Cu studies measured skin thickness by ultrasound, elasticity by cutometer, wrinkle depth by profilometry, wound area over time, and hair-follicle diameter in culture. Twelve-week topical trials reported measurable increases in thickness and elasticity and reduced fine-line depth; wound studies reported faster closure. The changes are consistent but modest, and none involved injection in humans.
Skin studies
The most cited controlled study compared a GHK-Cu cream with vitamin C and retinoic acid creams over 12 weeks in women with photoaged skin. GHK-Cu improved skin laxity, clarity and appearance, increased skin density and thickness on ultrasound, and reduced fine lines and wrinkle depth on profilometry, outperforming the comparators on several measures. A separate 12-week study on the thigh reported increased collagen production in 70% of subjects versus 50% for vitamin C. These are the 'before and after' results the phrase usually refers to.
Wound healing
Animal studies across rabbit, rat and pig models reported faster wound closure, greater collagen deposition and better organised granulation tissue with GHK-Cu applied to the wound. Small human trials in diabetic and venous ulcers reported improved healing rates. The effect is local to the treated wound.
Hair
In cultured hair follicles and in mouse models, GHK-Cu increased follicle size and prolonged the growth phase. Human hair data are limited to small cosmetic studies. Our hair research summary is on the GHK-Cu hub.
Gene expression
A 2012 analysis using the Broad Institute's Connectivity Map found that GHK-Cu altered the expression of a large number of human genes, upregulating genes involved in tissue repair and antioxidant defence and downregulating several associated with inflammation and cancer progression, in cultured cells. That is an in-vitro signal, not a clinical outcome.
What to make of Reddit and forum reports
Forum 'before and after' posts describe injectable use for which there is no human trial data. They are not evidence of anything except what people report, and they say nothing about the study endpoints above. Peptide Aus supplies GHK-Cu for laboratory research and does not provide usage guidance for people.
Frequently asked questions
How long did the skin studies run?
Twelve weeks in the main controlled trials, with measurements at four-week intervals.
Is there any human injectable data?
No controlled human trial of injectable GHK-Cu has been published.
What concentration did the topical studies use?
Creams in the range of 0.01% to 0.1% GHK-Cu, applied twice daily.
Kits
Build-Your-Own GLOW
GHK-Cu 50mg plus the BPC-157 + TB-500 blend, with water, forty syringes and swabs: GLOW's components as separate vials.
GHK-Cu Skin Pack (2 x 100mg)
Two GHK-Cu 100mg vials with water, sixty syringes and swabs, for longer skin and cellular protocols.
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