Present invention relate to a combination of experimental and computational workflows that allow characterization of skin and subcutaneous tissue microbial flora and its associated metabolome, aiming to first evaluate an individual's skin and subcutaneous tissue to determine if any skin condition is as a result of an imbalance or absence of commensal or mutualistic microorganisms or their associated metabolites. The methods and the associated computational platform provided herein relate to conducting a customized or personalized test and obtaining customized or personalized information regarding the skin and subcutaneous tissue flora and its associated metabolome there from also have been disclosed.

A spectrometer includes a chamber, a vacuum generator configured to suck in internal air of the chamber to pull skin of a subject into the chamber, a light source configured to emit light to the skin of the subject pulled into the chamber, a photodetector configured to receive light passing through the skin of the subject and acquire a spectrum of the light; and a skin contact adjuster configured to determine a contact state between the chamber and the skin by analyzing the spectrum of the light and thereby generate a determination result, and adjust the contact state between the chamber and the skin by applying a physical force to a periphery of the skin pulled into the chamber according to the determination result.

A method of taking a skin sample can include placing an adhesive onto a portion of skin and lifting the adhesive from the skin. A skin sample may then be tested while still on the adhesive, for example, by inoculating the sample with a bacterium, fungus, virus, or a combination.

The purpose of the present invention is to develop a method for screening drugs having the effect of increasing skin barrier function in in vitro studies and to evaluate barrier function in the skin. Candidate drugs can be screened by using the activity and/or expression level of serine racemase as an indicator.

Various aspects of the invention relate to compositions and methods for preventing and treating skin conditions, such as acne. Also provided herein are methods of determining whether a subject is at risk for a skin condition.

The present invention relates to a method for generating an ex vivo skin sample being capable of developing scar. Further, the present invention comprises a method for screening for a compound which modulates scar development. Additionally, a preparation comprising a scarred full thickness skin sample obtainable by the method of the present invention is also envisaged. Finally, the present invention also encompasses a preparation comprising a full thickness skin model comprising a full thickness skin sample immersed and unethered in liquid culture.

This document provides methods and materials involved in identifying and treating mammals with lichen planus (LP) as having (a) an increased likelihood of developing malignancy, or (b) an increased likelihood of experiencing a benign course of the disease. For example, this document provides methods and materials involved in identifying and treating mammals with oral LP that are likely to proceed to a malignancy such as oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), or are likely to follow a benign course of the disease.

The purpose of the present invention is to develop a method for screening drugs having the effect of increasing skin barrier function in in vitro studies and to evaluate barrier function in the skin. Candidate drugs can be screened by using the activity and/or expression level of serine racemase as an indicator.

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for treating a subject having an itch-related disorder, such as dermatological disorders or systemic disorders comprising itch. The methods may include determining the level of a biomarker in a biological sample from the subject. The biomarker may be selected from TRPV4 expression, lysophosphatidylcholine, and miRNA-146a expression, or a combination thereof. The subject may be identified as having the itch-related disorder when the level of the biomarker is greater in a sample from the subject than in a control. An anti-pruritic therapy may be administered to treat the subject having the itch-related disorder.

Provided is an identification method for dermal sheath cup cells (DSCC) in hair follicle-derived cells, said method being characterized by comprising using the expression level of GREM2 gene as an index. Also provided is a method for evaluating a composition for hair follicle regeneration which contains hair follicle-derived cells, said method being characterized by comprising determining the ratio and/or activity of dermal sheath cup cells (DSCC) in the hair follicle-derived cells with the use of the expression level of GREM2 gene as an index.