Side by side
AHK-Cu vs Melanotan II
Both are discussed for skin & hair. What this site records about each, side by side. Every figure is on the compound's own page with the source it came from.
| AHK-Cu | Melanotan II | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | GHK-Cu's less-studied sibling, used topically for hair. Almost all the research people cite for it is actually GHK-Cu research. | A melanocortin agonist that darkens skin by stimulating melanin production. Carries the most serious dermatological concern of anything on this site. |
| EvidenceHow much human evidence exists, not how well it works. | Preclinical | Preclinical |
| Regulatory statusReviewed 2026-08-18 | Sold as a cosmetic ingredient, not a drug. Cosmetics are not assessed for efficacy before sale, and no medicine containing it is approved for hair loss anywhere. | Not approved for human use in any jurisdiction. Multiple national medicines regulators have issued public safety warnings specifically about melanotan products, citing unregulated manufacture and dermatological risk. Sold only as a research chemical. |
| Routes | Topical | Subcutaneous |
| Half-life | Not recorded | 1 hours |
| Cheapest per mgVials only, read from vendors' own listings and dated on the price index. | $0.30/mg | $1.80/mg |
| Median per mg | $0.66/mg | $3.50/mg |
| Vendors with a price | 16 | 46 |
| Storage once mixed | A finished cosmetic has a preservative system and lasts months. A serum mixed at home has none and will grow bacteria. That is the practical risk with any topical peptide. | Refrigerated at 2–8 °C. Do not freeze once mixed. |
Compare two other compounds · The full price index
This page is educational. It describes what published research reports, not what you should do. Peptides discussed here are largely not approved for human use, and nothing on BioAlmanac is medical advice. Nothing here ranks these two against each other. A table can show that one has more human evidence behind it or costs less per milligram; neither of those is a recommendation, and the right comparison for any person is one their doctor makes with them.