GHK-Cu

research only Not an approved drug or dietary supplement. Cataloged for educational purposes only.

Contraindications

• Injectable use is not clinically established

Reported side effects

• Topical irritation reported in some users

Common in topical cosmetic formulations; injectable/systemic use is research-only. Cataloged for educational purposes; not medical advice.

Supports collagen synthesis, skin repair, and wound healing, with potential hair-density effects.

Skin / collagen positive human-observational

• tweet mentions Peptides 101: What the most popular peptides do (and where to get them) I get asked about peptides constantly, in person and online. Most people asking are confused. They don't know what peptides are, which ones are safe, how to use them, or where to get them. This article is a 101 explainer. Caveats: This is not medical advice, nor a recommendation. The author runs Superpower and plans to launch peptides in the future. The author has personally used several of the peptides discussed; accounts of effects are subjective, not clinical. What are peptides? A peptide is a chain of amino acids. There are millions of peptides already in the human body. DNA encodes RNA, which produces proteins and peptides that regulate biological functions. Insulin, Ozempic, and endorphins are all peptides. When people talk about peptides as a category they usually mean peptide pharmaceuticals injected to produce a positive effect. To lose weight: semaglutide, tirzepatide, retatrutide. GLP-1 is released after eating and signals fullness but degrades in minutes; semaglutide is a long-acting synthetic GLP-1 (Ozempic/Wegovy), FDA-approved. Tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound) hits GLP-1 and GIP, FDA-approved and tested in tens of thousands. Retatrutide is the strongest cousin, not yet approved but with strong Phase 3 data, hitting GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon; the author microdoses it for focus because it eliminates food noise. To put on muscle: CJC-1295, ipamorelin, sermorelin, tesamorelin. These signal the pituitary to release more growth hormone. CJC-1295 (GHRH mimic) and ipamorelin (ghrelin mimic) are stacked together. Sermorelin has decades of history in anti-aging/recovery clinics. Tesamorelin has one of the strongest evidence bases and is FDA-approved for HIV-related visceral fat loss. To heal fast: BPC-157 and TB-500. BPC-157 appears in gastric secretions and speeds repair by supporting blood flow; mechanism plausible, animal data strong, human data thin. TB-500 is synthetic thymosin beta-4, works on tissue repair through a different pathway, and is almost always paired with BPC-157; same evidence pattern. To have glowing skin: GHK-Cu, a copper-binding peptide for collagen, skin repair, wound healing, and potentially hair density; huge in skincare and looksmaxxing communities. To be smarter: semax and selank, Russian brain peptides used for focus and calmness, taken as injectables or nasal spray. To increase energy: MOTS-c and SS-31, which target mitochondria; popular with longevity researchers, science still early. To sleep better & live longer: epitalon (four amino acids, studied for telomere length, longevity and sleep) and pinealon (three amino acids, studied for cognitive function and neuroprotection), from Russian pineal-gland research; most research from one group, long-term safety thin. To not get sick: thymosin alpha-1, which regulates and strengthens the immune system and has a surprisingly deep clinical research history in infection, inflammation, and immune dysfunction. How to use peptides (not medical advice): start with a well-researched peptide like GLP-1s; get bloodwork before and during; work with a doctor who knows the space; start low, go slow. Where to get them: prescription via pharmacy; compounding-legal sites like Ageless RX or Maximus; experimental peptides are sourced from Research Use Only sites, though the safe approach is to wait for FDA-legalized compounding. The peptide era is just getting started. — @maxmarchione