# GHK-Cu Cream > GHK-Cu is a copper peptide, a small protein fragment bound to copper, used in topical skincare. Increase Health's GHK-Cu cream is prescribed for morning and night on clean skin, under your moisturiser and SPF, in a routine your provider reviews with you. - Category: Skin care - Generic name: copper tripeptide-1 - Prescription required: Yes, after review by a licensed clinician - Last updated: 2026-10-08 - Canonical URL: https://increase.health/treatments/ghk-cu-cream - Start an assessment: https://start.increase.health/skin-care/questionnaire ## Key facts - **Active ingredient:** GHK-Cu (copper peptide) - **How it's used:** Applied topically - **Price:** $540 one-time for a 3-month supply - **Prescription:** Required, after clinician review - **FDA status:** Compounded; not FDA-approved GHK-Cu is a copper tripeptide that occurs naturally in the body and has been studied in skin research. Apply it to clean skin morning and night, then follow with moisturiser, and SPF in the morning. Keep strong vitamin C for a different time of day. It can also be used alongside a retinoid routine when your provider recommends it. Your care team reviews your routine and any reactions with you. Each order is compounded in small batches and shipped to your door in stages. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is GHK-Cu? GHK-Cu is a small peptide bound to copper. GHK occurs naturally in the body, and lab studies link it to collagen production and wound healing. Our cream is compounded and applied to facial skin. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. ### Does GHK-Cu cream work? The evidence in people is limited. Reviewers have noted a surprising lack of clinical studies of GHK-Cu, and much of the research is lab work or small cosmetic studies. In one small independent trial after laser treatment, it didn't measurably change redness, wrinkles or skin quality, though people liked using it. Your care team and its licensed providers can talk through whether it fits your goals. ### Can I use it with tretinoin? Ask your care team. There are no clinical studies on using GHK-Cu and tretinoin together, so there's no evidence that they help or hinder each other. If you use both, your care team and its licensed providers can suggest how to fit them into your routine, and you should stop and tell them if your skin becomes irritated. ### Does it help with hair growth? Our cream is for facial skin, not hair. Studies of copper peptides for hair have only looked at them mixed with other hair-loss treatments, so their effect on their own isn't known. ### Could I be allergic to it? It's uncommon. Copper rarely causes skin allergy, though studies of GHK-Cu creams specifically are lacking. Stop using it and contact your care team if you get redness, itching or a rash that doesn't settle. ### Important safety information Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. They are prepared by state-licensed compounding pharmacies and may be prescribed when a licensed provider determines the formulation is clinically appropriate for you. Only use medication prescribed to you, at the dose and schedule your provider sets, and tell your provider about every medicine, supplement and medical condition before you start, including if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy or breastfeeding. Stop treatment and seek medical care right away for signs of a serious allergic reaction such as rash, hives, swelling of the face, lips or throat, or trouble breathing. Report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. For emergencies call 911. ## Important safety information Rare copper sensitivity can cause redness or itching. Discontinue and contact your care team if that happens. ## References 1. [Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers](https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/compounding-and-fda-questions-and-answers), U.S. Food and Drug Administration 2. [Topically applied GHK as an anti-wrinkle peptide: advantages, problems and prospective](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39963574/), Bioimpacts, 2025 3. [Effects of topical copper tripeptide complex on CO2 laser-resurfaced skin](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16847171/), Arch Facial Plast Surg, 2006 4. [The effect of copper tripeptide and tretinoin on growth factor production in a serum-free fibroblast model](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11176716/), Arch Facial Plast Surg, 2001 5. [Enhanced hair regrowth with five monthly sessions of minoxidil-dutasteride-copper peptides tattooing for androgenetic alopecia](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40225275/), JAAD Int, 2025 6. [Androgenetic alopecia treatment in Asian men](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30057663/), J Clin Aesthet Dermatol, 2018 7. [Copper hypersensitivity](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25098945/), Contact Dermatitis, 2014 8. [GHK peptide as a natural modulator of multiple cellular pathways in skin regeneration](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26236730/), Biomed Res Int, 2015 --- Increase Health connects patients with independent, US-licensed clinicians. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. This content is informational and not a substitute for medical advice.