AHK-Cu: research
A copper peptide used in scalp serums, with laboratory findings and weak patent-only human data.
Also called: Ala-His-Lys copper complex, L-alanyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper(II), Copper tripeptide-3.
Healing and repair peptides · Copper-bound tripeptide.
Five patent-only human reports, four involving mixtures, are separate from peer-reviewed direct-administration trials. Ex-vivo follicles do not establish treatment efficacy in people.
Studies
- Isolated follicles and cells. in-vitro, Human scalp tissue; 240 follicles, 30 per condition, from 3 donors.. Laboratory growth signals do not establish scalp regrowth. (source)
- Patent eyelash test. open-label, n=26, 26 subjects; age and sex not reported.. A patent reports fuller lashes with a 0.2% formula. (source)
- Patent scalp mixture test. rct, n=49, Adults aged 18–54 with pattern hair loss; 49 listed at entry, 44 analyzed.. The mixture produced a very small hair-count change; visual scores did not differ. (source)
- Patent two-week scalp test. single-arm, n=20, 20 women aged 36–52 with scalp flaking, from the Korean original.. An uncontrolled mixture test reports less scalp flaking and oil. (source)
- Patent one-year photographs. case-series, Men with hair loss lasting over 10 years; participant count unstated.. Photographs in a patent cannot establish a treatment effect. (source)
- Patent skin patch test. open-label, n=33, 33 healthy women; actual ages 20–49.. One participant reacted to the mixed formula. (source)
- Patent mouse hair-growth test. animal, 60-day-old C3H mice with clipped backs in resting hair phase; group sizes unstated.. A patent mouse model links injected AHK-Cu to local hair growth. (source)
AHK-Cu dosage
Typical reported dose: About 0.3 mL of a 1% serum on the scalp once a day
- Patent scalp mixture, 0.1%: AHK-Cu 1 mg/mL in the full Example 1 mixture; scalp volume unstated. once each evening, on the skin. Studied in a trial. Studied in: Participants in the cited patent experiment. (source)
- Patent eyelash formula, 0.2%: 0.20% AHK-Cu by weight; thin line of formula on one upper eyelid. nightly, on the skin. Studied in a trial. Studied in: Participants in the cited patent experiment. (source)
- Reported 1% scalp serum: 1% serum; one user reports about 0.3 mL/day. Nominally 3 mg/day if 1% means 10 mg/mL. once daily, on the skin. Reported by users, occasional report. Studied in: Adults reporting self-use. (source)
- Reported nightly dropper: 300 mg in a 30 mL serum bottle; 1–1.5 droppers nightly. Dropper volume unstated. nightly, on the skin. Reported by users, occasional report. Studied in: Adults reporting self-use. (source)
- Reported 50 mg scalp batch: 50 mg in 30 mL bacteriostatic water plus 0.5 g sodium hyaluronate; 1 mL daily. Author reports 1.66 mg/day. once daily, on the skin. Reported by users, rare report. Studied in: Adults reporting self-use. (source)
- Reported daily injections: One report started 2–3 mg/day, then used AHK-Cu 2 mg plus GHK-Cu 2 mg daily. daily, under the skin. Reported by users, rare report. Studied in: Adults reporting self-use. (source)
Highest studied: Highest identified human scalp concentration: 1 mg/mL in a patent mixture. Daily mg dose unstated..
These are doses reported in labels, trials or user reports, not a personal plan. Check the source behind each one.
AHK-Cu side effects and risks
Reported side effects
- Local redness or irritation: Patent mixture patch test: 1/33 reacted versus 0/33 with water; not an AHK Cu specific rate., mild. Stop if redness or stinging persists. (source)
- Itchy rash or allergy to the formula: No AHK Cu specific rate; cosmetic ingredients can cause allergy., moderate. Stop and seek assessment for a spreading or persistent rash. (source)
- Hair tint change: One forum commenter reported a tint change without thicker or new hair., mild. Record the change and stop if unwanted. (source)
Stop and get help if
- Trouble breathing, throat swelling, fainting or chest pain after application: Stop and call emergency services now.
- Spreading scalp redness, pus, fever or severe pain after needling: Stop and seek urgent assessment for possible infection.
- Severe eye pain or a new vision change after eye-area exposure: Stop and get urgent eye care.
Who should avoid it
- pregnant: No pregnancy safety data located. Precautionary block, not a proven fetal harm.
- breastfeeding: Milk transfer and infant safety are unknown. Precautionary block.
- tryingToConceive: Reproductive safety has not been studied. Precautionary block.
- under18: No pediatric safety evidence located. Precautionary adult-only screen.
- activeCancer: Cell-growth effects raise a theoretical concern; cancer safety is unknown. Precautionary block.
- other: Copper handling is impaired. Topical AHK-Cu absorption is unknown; review with the treating specialist.
- other: Avoid the ingredient that caused the reaction, including fragrances or preservatives.
- other: Cosmetic serum safety on an open skin barrier is unproven. Needling adds infection and irritation risks.
- testedAthlete: S0 may apply to unapproved pharmacological use. Obtain an anti-doping ruling before use.
Interactions
- Other copper peptides or copper products: Combined exposure is untested; mixing also changes the formula.
- Copper-removing medicines: Theoretical conflict with copper-overload care. No topical AHK-Cu interaction study exists.
- Minoxidil and other scalp medicines: Co-use is reported; no controlled AHK-Cu combination trial establishes benefit or compatibility.
- Blood thinners when combined with microneedling: Needling adds bleeding risk; FDA flags blood thinners. This is a procedure risk, not a proven topical AHK-Cu interaction.
Product quality risks
- No independent survey testing online AHK-Cu products was located. Mislabeling and contamination rates are unknown.
- AHK-Cu and GHK-Cu differ; a generic copper-peptide claim does not establish identity.
- Water, raw materials and weak preservation can contaminate a serum. A purity percentage does not establish microbial safety.
How AHK-Cu works
In isolated follicles, AHK-Cu changed growth and cell-survival signals. Higher concentrations inhibited growth. These experiments do not show how a scalp serum works in people.
- Dermal papilla cells: Changes growth and cell-survival signals in culture.
- Bcl-2/Bax balance: Shifted toward cell survival; measured cell-death reduction was not significant.
Half-life: No measured human half-life was located.
Gaps: No peer-reviewed trial of AHK-Cu alone applied to the scalp was located. Five human entries are patent experiments, not five clinical papers; four test the same mixture. No human pharmacokinetic, injection dose-finding or systemic safety study was located. Patent concentrations do not define a maximum daily mg dose because application amounts are missing. No pregnancy, breastfeeding, fertility, pediatric or long-term cancer-safety data located. No validated DIY shelf life, injection preparation or standard cycle found. Community prevalence describes this small search sample, not population use. No AHK-Cu product-testing survey, poison-center series or FDA warning letter located. Older PC1358 and unspecified copper-peptide studies could not be confirmed as AHK-Cu. WADA classification and several regional product/import rules remain unresolved.
Related to AHK-Cu
- BPC-157: An experimental repair peptide with mostly animal evidence and a few small human reports.
- TB-500: A short piece of thymosin beta-4 with no proven repair benefit in humans.
- GHK-Cu: A copper-binding skin peptide with small topical studies and untested systemic injections.
- Thymosin beta-4: A peptide studied for eye conditions and skin wounds; tendon-repair injections lack controlled human evidence.
- ARA-290: Experimental peptide studied for small-fiber nerve damage, with uncertain pain relief and safety.
- Ac-SDKP: An experimental repair peptide with old human studies, but no proven healing dose.
Sources
- 21 CFR 216.23 — Bulk drug substances that can be used to compound drug products in accordance with section 503A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act., Office of the Federal Register · eCFR · 2026
- 503B Bulk Drug Substances List, FDA · FDA · 2026
- Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding Under Section 503A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, FDA · FDA · 2026
- Medicines, European Medicines Agency · European Medicines Agency · 2026
- MHRA Products | Home, MHRA · MHRA · 2026
- The 2026 Prohibited List, World Anti-Doping Agency · WADA · 2026
- Therapeutic Goods (Poisons Standard—October 2026) Instrument 2026, Australian Government · 2026
- Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding Under Section 503B of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, FDA · FDA · 2025
- Allergens in Cosmetics, U.S. Food and Drug Administration · FDA
- Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG), Therapeutic Goods Administration · TGA
- Drug Product Database: Access the database, Health Canada · Health Canada
- Drugs@FDA: FDA-Approved Drugs, FDA · FDA
- Eye Cosmetic Safety, US Government
- FYs 2013-2017 Regulatory Science Report: Complex Mixtures and Peptides, FDA · FDA
- Is It a Cosmetic, a Drug, or Both? (Or Is It Soap?), FDA
Sources checked: 2026-10-18.
Information only, not medical advice. Peptifacts does not sell anything and does not link to sellers.