Prescription required. Subject to provider approval. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved.
TWO STRENGTHS
Two strengths. Your provider decides.
GHK-Cu Cream is compounded in two concentrations. Your provider reviews your intake and determines which strength, if either, is appropriate. Choosing one here doesn’t change that.
Rx · Compounded0.5%
Lower concentration
GHK-Cu Cream 0.5%
5 mg of GHK-Cu in each gram of cream.
Monthly 30 g
$139/month
Quarterly 90 g
$317 every 3 months$100 less than three monthly orders
Prescription required. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Plans renew automatically at the interval you select until you cancel. Product images are illustrative; dispensed packaging may vary. Review the subscription and cancellation terms and Refund Policy.
WHAT IT IS
What is GHK-Cu Copper Peptide Cream?
(jee-aych-kay see-yoo)
amino acids in GHK
3
copper ion in GHK-Cu
1
first described
1973
GHK is a tripeptide: a short chain of three amino acids, glycine, histidine and lysine (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine). GHK-Cu is GHK bound to copper.
Established biology: Established biology
Scientific interest: Scientific interest
Established biology: A peptide your body makes
GHK is a naturally occurring tripeptide found in human blood plasma.1
Established biology: Bound to copper
GHK binds copper(II) ions. The copper-bound form is GHK-Cu, the ingredient in this cream.1
Established biology: Plasma levels differ with age
A 2018 review reports plasma GHK at about 200 ng/mL at age 20 and about 80 ng/mL by age 60.1
Scientific interest: Studied in skin research
GHK-Cu has been studied in laboratory skin-cell research and in small cosmetic studies, including 12-week studies of 71 and 41 women reported mainly in conference abstracts.1
Vivo's GHK-Cu Cream is a compounded topical preparation containing GHK-Cu, prepared by a licensed U.S. compounding pharmacy for one individual prescription after a licensed provider has reviewed your intake.
What happens with your prescription and plan over the first year. This is a care timeline, not a results timeline.
Day 1
Online visit
Complete your intake. A licensed provider reviews it and decides whether GHK-Cu Cream is appropriate, and at which strength.
After approval
First shipment
A licensed U.S. compounding pharmacy prepares your cream: 30 g on the monthly plan or 90 g on the quarterly plan. 2-day shipping is included.
30 days
Monthly renewal
On the monthly plan, your next 30 g is prepared and shipped unless you cancel before the order goes to the pharmacy.
3 months
Quarterly renewal
On the quarterly plan, your next 90 g supply renews. On either plan, tell your care team about irritation or changes to your routine.
1 year
Prescription renewal
A prescription covers up to a year of refills. Continuing after that needs an active prescription, which may require an updated health assessment and provider review.
There isn't a clinically established timeline in which compounded GHK-Cu Cream should be expected to produce a particular cosmetic outcome.
WHAT YOUR PLAN INCLUDES
One plan. Care included.
From $139/month, depending on the strength your provider prescribes.
Licensed provider review
A licensed provider with Arora Health & Aesthetics, LLC reviews your intake and health history.
Strength set by your provider
If GHK-Cu Cream is appropriate, your provider decides which strength to prescribe.
Compounded cream, if prescribed
Prepared for your individual prescription by a licensed U.S. compounding pharmacy.
2-day shipping
Discreet packaging, included in your plan price.
Ongoing care messaging
Message your care team through your patient account as questions come up.
Cancel from your account
Monthly or quarterly. Cancel before your next order is sent to the pharmacy.
GETTING STARTED
Three steps. All online.
Step 1
Start online
Complete a health history for licensed provider review. Some states require a live visit, and a video visit may be needed if clinically indicated.
Step 2
Get your shipment
If your provider prescribes GHK-Cu Cream, a licensed U.S. compounding pharmacy prepares it for you and it ships discreetly, with 2-day shipping included.
Step 3
Continue with support
Message your care team as questions come up. Refills require an active prescription.
Apply your cream exactly as your prescription label directs.
Your skin
Watch for irritation or unexpected changes, and tell your care team about them.
Your other products
Follow your provider's guidance on combining a prescription cream with other active skincare.
Your questions
Individual experiences vary. Your care team is a message away.
Already using retinoids, acids or vitamin C?
Tell your provider everything in your routine, including:
Retinoids (retinol, tretinoin)
AHAs or BHAs
Benzoyl peroxide
Vitamin C
Prescription dermatology products
Other copper or peptide products
Recent peels, lasers or microneedling
Any allergy, including to copper
Important safety information
This is a compounded medication
This is a compounded medication prepared by a licensed pharmacy for an individual prescription. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved drug products.
FDA does not review compounded preparations for safety, effectiveness, or manufacturing quality before they are dispensed. We state this plainly because you should know it before you decide.
Prescription only
This medication may be used only by the person for whom it was prescribed, exactly as directed by the prescribing provider. Do not share it, and do not use a prescription written for someone else.
Before your visit, tell your provider about
All medical conditions you have or have had
Every medication and supplement you take
Any allergies
Whether you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
Possible side effects
The side effects associated with your prescription are reviewed with you by your prescribing provider, and the dispensing pharmacy supplies the labeling that accompanies your medication. Ask your provider before you start, and contact them if you notice anything unexpected after you do.
Do not use if
Whether this medication is appropriate for you is a clinical determination your provider makes from your history, your current medications, and your circumstances — which is why the visit exists. Tell your provider everything listed above before a prescription is issued, and do not use a medication prescribed for someone else.
Storage and beyond-use date
Store as directed on the pharmacy label. Do not use past the beyond-use date printed on the label.
Reporting a problem
Questions about your medication go to your prescribing provider or the dispensing pharmacy. Report a suspected adverse reaction to your provider. You may also report it to FDA MedWatch at 1-800-FDA-1088.
QUESTIONS
Questions, answered directly
What is GHK-Cu Cream?
A compounded prescription cream containing GHK-Cu, a copper-bound form of the tripeptide GHK (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine). It is prescribed by a licensed provider after an online intake and prepared by a licensed U.S. compounding pharmacy.
What's the difference between the 0.5% and 4% strengths?
Concentration. The 0.5% cream contains 5 mg of GHK-Cu per gram, and the 4% cream contains 40 mg per gram. Each comes as a 30 g monthly or 90 g quarterly supply. Your provider decides which strength, if either, is appropriate. Vivo doesn't claim that either strength produces a particular result.
How do I use it?
As your prescription directs. Your label states how much to apply, where and how often. Don't change it without talking to your provider.
Does GHK-Cu Cream reduce wrinkles or fine lines?
Vivo doesn't claim it does, and makes no wrinkle or fine-line claim for compounded GHK-Cu Cream.
Does it increase collagen or firm skin?
Vivo makes no collagen or firmness claim for compounded GHK-Cu Cream.
How long before I see results?
There isn't a clinically established timeline in which compounded GHK-Cu Cream should be expected to produce a particular cosmetic outcome. Individual experiences vary.
Is this the same as copper peptide serums sold online?
No. Cosmetic copper peptide products are sold without a prescription. This is a compounded prescription medication, prepared for one patient after provider review. Ingredients, concentrations and bases differ between products, and one shouldn't be assumed to behave like another.
Can I use it with retinol, acids or vitamin C?
Ask your provider. Tell them everything in your routine, and follow their guidance on how your prescription fits around it.
Is compounded GHK-Cu Cream FDA-approved?
No. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved, and FDA does not review them for safety, effectiveness or quality before they are marketed.
Do I need a prescription?
Yes. A licensed provider reviews your intake and decides whether a prescription is appropriate. Nothing ships without one.
Who prepares my medication?
This is a compounded medication prepared by a licensed pharmacy for an individual prescription. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved drug products. Your cream is prepared by a licensed U.S. compounding pharmacy, which is named on your prescription label. Vivo is the telehealth platform; it does not compound medications.
What does the price include?
Includes provider review, compounded medication, and 2-day shipping.
Can I cancel?
You can cancel a subscription at any time from your account dashboard, or by emailing care@vivoclinic.org. Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period, provided we receive it before that period's order is transmitted to the pharmacy. Once an order has been transmitted to the pharmacy, or compounding has begun, it can no longer be canceled or refunded — it is being prepared specifically for you.
Who do I contact with questions?
Treatment questions go to your care team through your patient account. Account and billing questions go to care@vivoclinic.org.
Pickart L, Margolina A. Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(7):1987. View sourceNarrative review by authors affiliated with a skin-care research company. Cited for GHK-Cu's chemical identity, its presence in plasma, reported plasma levels by age, and the kind of human studies published — not for any effect of this cream.
