The present invention relates to the leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 8A (LRRC8A), and/or an activator of LRRC8A, for use in the treatment and/or prevention of a skin condition associated with an altered differentiation of keratinocytes. Preferably, the skin condition associated with an altered differentiation of keratinocytes is psoriasis or dermatitis, preferably atopic dermatitis. The present invention further relates to a method of identifying a compound capable of altering the differentiation of keratinocytes, the method comprising the steps of (a) contacting keratinocytes with a test compound and determining the amount of LRRC8A protein or LRRC8A transcript in said keratinocytes; and (b) comparing the amount of LRRC8A protein or LRRC8A transcript determined in step (a) with the amount of LRRC8A protein or LRRC8A transcript in a control not contacted with said test compound, wherein a change in the amount of LRRC8A protein or LRRC8A transcript after contacting the keratinocytes with the test compound indicates that the test compound is capable of altering the differentiation of keratinocytes. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of identifying a compound capable of altering the differentiation of keratinocytes, the method comprising the steps of (a) contacting keratinocytes with a test compound and determining the activity of (a) VRAC(s) comprising LRRC8A in said keratinocytes; and (b) comparing the activity determined in step (a) with the activity in a control not contacted with said test compound, wherein a change in the activity of (a) VRAC(s) comprising LRRC8A after contacting the keratinocytes with the test compound indicates that the test compound is capable of altering the differentiation of keratinocytes. The present invention further relates to an inhibitor of the leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 8A (LRRC8A) for use in the treatment and/or prevention of a skin condition selected from skin injury and impaired wound healing, as well as to a cosmetic method for alleviating the effects of a skin condition on the appearance of the skin of an affected individual, the method comprising topically administering an effective amount of (i) leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 8A (LRRC8A); (ii) an activator of LRRC8A; (iii) LRRC8A and an activator of LRRC8A; or (iv) an inhibitor of LRRC8A.

The present invention provides a method for determining a sensitivity to ultraviolet light non-invasively and immediately. A method for determining a UV sensitivity is provided involving: a step of irradiating the skin of a test subject with ultraviolet light to determine the UV sensitivity using the amount of biophotons to be detected within a specific period after the irradiation, wherein 50% or more of the specific period overlaps a period from 1 to 3 minutes after the irradiation.

A method of selecting skin treatment regimens, ingredients and compositions that includes measuring the levels of particular small molecule metabolites on skin both before and after product application and testing for a change in small molecule metabolite levels is disclosed.

The present invention is directed to a mass spectrometry approach to identifying carcinomas or tissue abnormalities, and distinguishing carcinomas or tissue abnormalities.

Disclosed herein is a method of detecting the presence of skin UV damage based on molecular risk factors. In some instances, also described herein is a method of determining the progression of UV damage based on the molecular risk factors.

To provide a method for evaluating or selecting an agent for reducing sensory irritation, which reduces sensory irritation caused by parabens, and an agent for reducing sensory irritation, which reduces sensory irritation caused by parabens. A method for evaluating or selecting an agent for reducing sensory irritation caused by parabens, comprising the following steps (1) to (3): (1) a step of contacting cells capable of expressing CES1 with a test substance; (2) a step of measuring expression of CES1 in the cells; (3) a step of evaluating a test substance which promotes expression of CES1 as an agent for reducing sensory irritation caused by parabens based on the results measured in (2).

The purpose of the invention is to develop a method for screening anti-aging substances. The present inventors have found a phenomenon in which a dermis aging factor secreted by senescent cells acts on normal cells to promote the decomposition of dermal components and a reduction in the production of dermal components, and have arrived at developing a method for screening anti-aging substances by employing the dermis aging factor as an indicator.

The present invention relates to a method of evaluating cellulite using fibulin-3 and/or sarcoglycan gamma as an indicator in a harvested skin sample, and a method of evaluating a drug for improving, preventing or treating cellulite using fibulin-3 and/or sarcoglycan gamma as an indicator in cultured cells.

A method for determining healing status of a wound is provided comprising: i) quantifying the expression level of GM-CSF or MMP-13, and optionally one or more additional biomarkers, in a wound tissue sample or wound fluid sample from a wound of a mammalian subject; and ii) comparing the expression level of GM-CSF or MMP-13 of the wound tissue sample or wound fluid sample to a threshold level and determining that the wound is non-healing if the level of GM-CSF or MMP-13 exceeds the threshold level.

Provided are methods of regulating proliferation and/or differentiation of keratinocytes and immune cells, more specifically to methods of treating pathologies characterized by hyperproliferative keratinocytes or inflammatory skin diseases by administration of FABP4-inhibitor.