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Skin & Hair Protocol (GHK-Cu)

Combined topical + subcutaneous GHK-Cu for skin remodelling and hair-follicle support.

Skin, hair, and cosmetic Beginner Cycle: Topical daily ongoing; injectable 4-week cycles

Overview

GHK-Cu (glycyl-histidyl-lysine copper) is the most-researched copper peptide for dermal remodelling. Topical use builds collagen and improves barrier function; subcutaneous use adds systemic wound-healing signals. The two routes are complementary and commonly combined.

Dose schedule

Phase	Dose & route	Notes
Topical — daily	0.1%–2% GHK-Cu serum or cream, applied to clean skin at night.	Start at 0.1% for sensitive skin. Compatible with most actives except direct retinoid co-application (space by 30 min or alternate nights).
Injectable loading — weeks 1–4	1–2 mg SC daily or every other day.	Rotate between abdomen and thigh. Mild stinging at injection site is common.
Injectable maintenance	1 mg SC twice weekly OR pause 4–8 weeks between cycles.	Topical continues through pauses.

Bloodwork cadence

Timing	Panel
Baseline	CBC, CMP, serum copper, serum zinc
Week 8	Serum copper, zinc — ensure copper:zinc ratio not drifting
Annually	Repeat copper + zinc if cycling long-term

Expected timeline

Week 2: Topical: improved skin softness and reduced visible redness.
Week 4: Injectable loading complete. Fine-line changes often visible by this point.
Week 8: Collagen synthesis effects measurable in biopsy studies at this timescale.
Week 12: Hair-density improvements (if targeted) begin to show in before/after photos.

Red flags — stop and reassess

Any history of Wilson disease or copper storage disorder — contraindicated.
Persistent injection site redness or lumps.
If taking high-dose oral zinc, time it 2+ hours from GHK-Cu to avoid absorption interference.

Contraindications

Wilson disease.
Active cancer (angiogenesis concern at systemic doses).
Pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Linked resources

Sources

Educational use only. This protocol summarises published trial schedules, FDA labelling, and widely-referenced research-community practice. Doses, cycle lengths, and bloodwork recommendations should be reviewed with a qualified prescriber before use in any human. Several peptides discussed are not approved for human administration in most jurisdictions.