The copper tripeptide that kicked off peptide skincare, plus hair-loss protocols that actually work and the tanning peptides — with honest framing about risks.
Compounds with the strongest trial data. Each card links to the full research deep-dive.
Copper-binding tripeptide. Modulates ~4000 genes in skin fibroblasts — collagen synthesis, wound healing, anti-inflammatory, hair follicle support. The most-studied skincare peptide.
Vasodilator with pro-proliferative hair follicle effect. FDA-approved topical, oral off-label. Standard first-line for androgenic alopecia and alopecia areata.
5-alpha-reductase inhibitor. Blocks testosterone-to-DHT conversion. Oral is FDA-approved; topical has less systemic side-effect risk. The hair-loss standard-of-care.
Research-use androgen receptor antagonist. Topical only. Blocks DHT at the receptor without systemic androgen effects. Alternative to finasteride for users who experience sexual side effects.
Melanocortin receptor agonist. Induces melanogenesis (tanning) without UV exposure. Side-effect profile includes nausea, flushing, and theoretical melanoma concern.
For skin effects, topical is sufficient — the molecule penetrates well and effects are local. For longevity/systemic effects, SC injection. Most users do topical. Topical is also far cheaper per month.
Short-term it's well-tolerated by most users (nausea and flushing common). Long-term there's a theoretical concern about melanoma given the melanocyte-stimulating mechanism. Human safety data is thin.
RU-58841 is better tolerated (no sexual side effects) because it's topical-only and doesn't affect systemic DHT. But it's research-use only, has less long-term data, and requires consistent application. Finasteride is the clinical standard.
Yes, commonly done. GHK-Cu supports collagen synthesis; tretinoin accelerates cell turnover. Use them at different times (GHK AM, tretinoin PM) to avoid irritation.
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5 related research pages covering specific questions, compounds, and edge cases.
Minoxidil is FDA-approved for hair loss. Finasteride is FDA-approved for hair loss (oral) — topical formulations are off-label. RU-58841 and Melanotan II are research-use only and not FDA-approved for human use.
Not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider. Research use only.