Comparison of copper peptide GHK-CU with Minoxidil in the treatment of alopecia

Copper peptide GHK-CU is a cosmetic peptide, and what does it have to do with Minoxidil and treating hair loss? let us look at it today.

What is the copper peptide GHK-CU?

GHK-CU is a peptide that occurs naturally in human plasma and has powerful protective and regenerative functions, so it is widely used in skin care products.

What is Minoxidil?

Minoxidil is the only topical drug approved for the treatment of androgenic alopecia.

Why is the copper peptide GHK-CU used to treat hair loss?

The application of copper peptide GHK-CU in skin care products is related to its function.

It increases collagen and elastin synthesis, which in addition to improving skin condition, also enhances the health of scalp cells, thereby strengthening hair follicles and promoting hair growth.

Copper peptides also have the function of reducing inflammation and free radical damage, in addition to helping the skin anti-aging, but also contribute to scalp health. Scalp areas are also prone to inflammation, and topical application of the copper peptide GHK-CU helps scalp health.

Studies have shown that copper ions can also inhibit the action of type I and type II 5α reductase, thereby reducing the production of DHT. DHT is one of the main causes of androgenic alopecia.

Because of these benefits, GHK-CU has been linked to the treatment of hair loss, and further studies have found that in addition to the above effects, the copper peptide GHK-CU also helps hair growth in the following ways.

1. Stimulate fibroblasts to produce vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is an important factor in accelerating hair growth and increasing the number of hair follicles.
2. The production of transforming growth factor-β1 inhibits hair growth, and GHK-CU inhibits the production of transforming growth factor-β1, thereby preventing hair growth in hair follicles from prematurely stopping and turning into a degenerative phase.

3.GHK-CU promotes the proliferation of dermal papilla cells and inhibits their apoptosis, thereby stimulating the regeneration of hair follicles and hair.

For these reasons, although the copper peptide GHK-CU is not approved for the treatment of hair loss, it is recommended to help strengthen the scalp health of hair transplant patients, provide nutrients for hair growth, and reduce the time it takes for hair to grow after hair transplantation.

A comparison with Minoxidil demonstrated the efficacy of GHK-CU in treating hair loss

All of the above proved why the copper peptide GHK-CU could be used to treat hair loss until a comparison of the copper peptide GHK-CU with Minoxidil proved the actual efficacy of GHK-CU.

One study using 5% GHK-CU and 5% Minoxidil to stimulate hair follicle growth in mice showed that both increased hair follicles by 80%. For this reason, GHK-CU is considered by many to be as effective as 5% minoxidil in hair growth. Because this is an animal study, there are no human studies to further confirm.

The prospect of copper peptide GHK-CU in the treatment of hair loss compared to Minoxidil

Peptide therapy is generally considered safer and has fewer side effects, while GHK-CU is a small molecule that is naturally present in the human body and gradually declines with age (from about 200 ng/ml to 80 nl/ml). Therefore, it is believed that the use of GHK-CU in a certain dose range, so that its level in the human body rises to the normal range, is not side-effects, and has corresponding benefits.

Peptides are usually injected, and GHK-CU has been used in skin care products, so the problem of its external penetration has been solved. Therefore, it is OK to apply GHK-CU to the scalp, and topical use of peptides will be safer than injection.

The copper peptide GHK-CU is co-used with Minoxidil

Both the copper peptide GHK-CU and minoxidil can be used to treat hair loss, as GHK-CU is proven safe and can be used simultaneously with Minoxidil.