NAD+ vs GHK-Cu: Can You Use GHK-Cu and NAD+ Together?

Everything starts to slow down the older you get. Your recovery, your cognition, your energy. Even your skin starts to change. This is because a lot of the natural compounds in your body start diminishing, two of which are GHK-Cu and NAD+. It’s why people often end up comparing NAD+ vs GHK-Cu in search of anti-aging solutions.

The truth is, though, GHK-Cu and NAD+ are actually quite a bit different from each other. NAD+ is a molecule in your cells that helps fuel energy and DNA repair. It’s a great treatment if you need help bouncing back faster or regaining that pep in your step. GHK-Cu can help with recovery to some extent, too. But it’s better known for its beauty benefits - specifically, helping curb hair loss and encourage firmer skin. 

That being said, can you use GHK-Cu and NAD+ together to fill in the gaps and round out your anti-aging regimen? Certainly! We’ll share tips on how to do exactly that, including where you can find the #1 copper peptide serum containing GHK-Cu online. Learn more below! 

NAD+ vs GHK-Cu (Quick Comparison)

What Can GHK-Cu Do For You?

This naturally occurring peptide is made of a short chain of amino acids bound to copper. Your body actually makes it on its own, and you likely have plenty of it in your blood plasma throughout your youth. 

GHK-Cu was first isolated in the 1970s by Dr. Loren Pickart. Scientists have been intrigued by what it was capable of ever since then. 

What we know so far is that it works like a messenger molecule (which is where a lot of the comparison between GHK-Cu vs NAD+ likely comes from). GHK-Cu reaches cells and encourages them to ramp up collagen production, repair damaged tissue, and strengthen antioxidant defenses.

It appears that GHK-Cu can influence more than 4,000 human genes, though, so there’s likely a lot we still don’t know about what it can do.¹

Most of the GHK-Cu benefits are specific to skin and hair. It has powerful cosmetic potential, firming up loose skin and minimizing the appearance of fine lines. It may even help stimulate hair follicles to encourage regrowth in areas that have gone stagnant.

The problem? GHK-Cu levels drop off over time - from around 200 ng/mL in your 20s to about 80 ng/mL by your 60s. This is partly why you may see changes in your skin and hair appearance over that span. It’s also why people get more curious about adding GHK-Cu to their routine the older they get, in an attempt to turn back the hands of time.

While injectable protocols are out there, they’re largely unregulated and shrouded in question marks about safety. We advocate for topical application, specifically, at 1% concentration. That’s what you get in our copper peptides for hair and copper peptides for skin here at PLU Laboratories. 

What is NAD+?

We’ve seen people compare NAD+ GHK-Cu and refer to them both as peptides for anti-aging. That’s not exactly accurate, though. NAD+ isn’t a peptide at all. It’s short for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, a molecule every cell in your body uses to manufacture energy and facilitate repairs. 

Think of it as the battery powering your cells. Those cells are capable of efficiently converting food to energy and doing their jobs when the battery is full. But like GHK-Cu, the battery starts to drain over the years. Everything slows down as a result.

Experts have analyzed NAD+ levels across a wide range of ages, and the common theme is that levels progressively decline. That decline correlates with more oxidative damage and suboptimal cellular function.²

Restoring ample NAD+ levels can lead to better energy, faster recovery, and just feeling better overall. The opposite is true, according to Dr. Daniel Schlessinger. “When NAD levels drop, we see decreased collagen production, impaired DNA repair from UV damage and reduced cellular turnover.”³

The good news is it’s fairly easy to restore NAD+. There are a handful of ways to go about it. You’ll see supplements out there, but they’re mainly NAD+ precursors rather than NAD+ itself. Direct treatment involves either injections or nasal spray. 

You will typically need a prescription for legit NAD+ therapy. Or, you could get IV drips locally in some cases. That’s a major distinction between NAD+ GHK-Cu - accessibility. It’s just one of many differences you need to be aware of. 

GHK-Cu vs NAD+: In-Depth Comparison

It’s actually pretty easy to pick between GHK-Cu vs NAD+ because they do such different things. Both exist in the human body naturally and start to decline with age, but that’s really where the similarities end. 

Skin and Hair Benefits

NAD+ doesn’t do a whole lot for your skin and hair. It’s not something you start using for cosmetic reasons. It might indirectly support skin health, but that’s a stretch. Your cells can more efficiently make energy and repair damage faster when NAD+ levels are high. But don’t expect NAD+ therapy to lead to any sort of visible change in skin texture, firmness, or hair density.

On the other hand, GHK-Cu has plenty of research showing what it can do for skin and hair. For example, one study found that copper peptides could promote hair follicle cell growth - while lowering cell death markers. This led experts to the conclusion that GHK-Cu supports a better environment for healthy hair growth.⁴

But most people are intrigued by the skin benefits, as it appears GHK-Cu can boost collagen density, improve skin thickness, and mask the appearance of fine lines. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose says that copper peptides “form complexes in the body that play important roles in collagen production and tissue repair.”⁵

Energy and Longevity

The flip side of the NAD+ vs GHK-Cu is that copper peptides won’t really move the needle on energy and longevity, or overall recovery for that matter. You could make the case here that GHK-Cu tells cells to do their jobs more efficiently. But NAD+ is where the research on longevity lives.

Think back to high school science class. The mitochondria (tiny power plants in your cells) can’t turn nutrients into usable energy with NAD+. You feel the drop in NAD+ in the form of fatigue, poor concentration, lower endurance, and stagnant recovery from exercise/injury.

Just to show you what the research says, one study published only a few years ago gave NMN (an NAD+ precursor) to a group of women and found that it improved the way in which their muscles processed insulin. It also showed signs of muscle tissue remodeling. Both of those things are indicative of healthier cellular function.⁶

Side Effects and Safety

The good news about comparing NAD+ vs GHK-Cu is both are considered relatively safe - when used as directed, of course. This is why it’s imperative to understand the difference between GHK-Cu topical vs injection. Injectable protocols are unregulated and could be dangerous. But topical application of GHK-Cu is very safe, with no real side effects documented.

NAD+ therapy is generally well-tolerated, too. The one thing to be aware of is reactions to needles and IVs, but it’s usually just temporary redness and discomfort. You can get around it by using NAD+ nasal spray or sticking with NAD precursor supplements (like NMN or NR).

Cost and Accessibility

GHK-Cu is certainly the more affordable and accessible side of the NAD+ vs GHK-Cu comparison. You can order our GHK-Cu serum online right now for as little as $33.99 on subscription. Or, get the bigger bottle and pay just $1.08 per day when you subscribe ($1.27 per day one-time)! You don’t have to jump through hoops to get a prescription.

In contrast, true NAD+ therapy is expensive. And inconvenient to commit to for the long haul. We’re not saying it isn’t worth it, but it’s something you have to be all in on. Whether you get an NAD+ prescription and inject yourself at home or you go to your local clinic for IV drips on a regular basis, it’s a little more of a hassle. But it can make a dramatic difference in how you feel!

How You Actually Use Them

We’ve touched on this throughout already, so we’ll keep it brief, but the ways you actually go about using GHK-Cu vs NAD+ couldn’t be more different, either. 

First, the overlap. The best way to take NAD+ is arguably through injections based on bioavailability. That requires a prescription and you have to be comfortable injecting yourself at home. You can technically find gray-market copper peptide serums, too, but this is sketchy. We do not recommend it. You are buying unregulated peptides and injecting yourself with no guidance.

The better way to use GHK-Cu is topically. A serum puts the good stuff where you need it most, be it your scalp, skin, or both. There are also NAD+ IV drips and nasal sprays, and as mentioned already, you can take precursor supplements as well. 

Which is Better For Aging Gracefully, GHK-Cu vs NAD+?

The key takeaway from this conversation is that one isn’t necessarily better than the other in looking at NAD+ vs GHK-Cu side by side. They address totally different aspects of aging.

• Go with GHK-Cu for skin and hair support as you notice more shedding, skin sagging, and fine lines.
• Use NAD+ for energy and recovery enhancement as everything starts to slow down internally.

They’re not exactly comparable in terms of what they’re best suited for. So, can you use GHK-Cu and NAD+ together rather than trying to choose between them?

Can You Use GHK-Cu and NAD+ Together?

Yes, and you probably should! If you’re at the point in your life when NAD+ levels start to decline and you feel more sluggish, then you probably also have less GHK-Cu in your blood plasma than you used to - and it may be showing in your skin and hair health.

You can enjoy the best of both worlds by adding each of these anti-aging treatments to your self-care regimen. NAD+ will fuel your cells to produce better energy and recover better, while GHK-Cu encourages your skin to make more collagen and your follicles to wake back up.

There aren’t any interactions associated with taking GHK-Cu and NAD+ together, either. They’re relatively safe separately, and they’re safe together as well - assuming you buy high-quality treatments and use them as directed, that is.

It’s simple. You’ll take your NAD+ precursor supplement in the morning, or do your weekly injection/IV drip. You will apply your GHK-Cu serum every single day - perhaps even twice a day - and then massage it in for 30-60 seconds to maximize absorption.

Both of these treatments are longer-term plays, so don’t expect a dramatic difference overnight. It can take a few weeks to replenish baseline NAD+ levels, and it can take as long as 3 months to see a difference in your skin/hair after incorporating GHK-Cu. Be patient!

Finding the Right NAD+ and GHK-Cu Dosages

Here’s what we recommend if you’re planning on using GHK-Cu and NAD+ together.

How Much GHK-Cu to Use Daily

Twice a day, every day, is the best practice for GHK-Cu supplementation. Concentration is everything as far as choosing a serum goes, though. Most brands won’t disclose the amount of GHK-Cu actually in their serum - they just talk about all the other ingredients included. 

Here at PLU Laboratories, we provide 1% GHK-Cu serums paired with either Acetyl-Tetrapeptide-3 (hair tonic) or Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 (skin tonic). There are just 5-6 ingredients total in the two serums. No fluff or filler.

You just need a few drops applied to a clean scalp or skin. Then massage it in and let the peptide work its magic! Do this every morning and evening for at least 4-8 weeks. You’ll be amazed at what a difference you notice over that span!

NAD+ Injection Protocol

We’ll assume you’re going with either an NAD+ injection protocol or IV drips since that’s where most of the evidence comes from. Your prescribing physician will guide you through it, so there’s really no need for us to try and guess what dosage and frequency you’ll be on. It all depends on your health.

That being said, most people end up getting 250-500 mg per NAD+ IV session, and those sessions tend to be spaced 1-2 weeks apart. On the other hand, subcutaneous injections usually involve lower amounts per dose (50-200 mg) taken more frequently - say, every few days or once a week. 

As for oral NAD+ precursors, you’ll take your supplement as directed every day.

Take the Next Step With PLU Laboratories

Whether you end up using GHK-Cu and NAD+ together or just copper peptides, we can help. PLU Laboratories has the most transparent GHK-Cu serums on the market with just 5-6 ingredients and exact concentrations disclosed, backed by lab testing. 

Our blog has another great resource comparing GHK-Cu vs BPC-157 if you want to learn more. Otherwise, get your GHK-Cu today and get started!

Frequently asked questions

References

1. Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. "GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration." BioMed Research International. 2015;2015:648108. PubMed
2. Massudi H, et al. "Age-associated changes in oxidative stress and NAD+ metabolism in human tissue." PLoS One. 2012;7(7):e42357. PubMed
3. Schlessinger D. Quoted in "NAD Levels and Aging." NewBeauty. Source
4. Pyo HK, Yoo HG, et al. "The effect of tripeptide-copper complex on human hair growth in vitro." Archives of Pharmacal Research. 2007;30(7):834-839. PubMed
5. Murphy-Rose B. Quoted in "Do Copper Peptides Help Improve Signs of Aging?" TODAY.com. Source
6. Yoshino M, et al. "Nicotinamide mononucleotide increases muscle insulin sensitivity in prediabetic women." Science. 2021;372(6547):1224-1229. PubMed