Skin Treatment

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for determining the predisposition of an individual to a skin condition comprising identifying the profilaggrin alleles present in the genome of an ex vivo sample taken from the individual. Skin conditions include the ability of an individual to produce Natural Moisturising Factors (NMF), dry skin and/or predisposition to detergent-induced erythema. Typically profilaggrin alleles are identified by determining the number of encoded filaggrin repeats. Methods of the invention are particularly useful for grouping individuals for the purposes of participation in clinical trials or for matching an individual to a cosmetic preparation.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A kit for determining whether predisposition of an individual to a skin condition selected from the group consisting of dandruff, dry skin and detergent induced erythema correlates with the individuals level of profillagrin alleles present in the genome, said kit comprising oligonucleotide primers which can be annealed to sequences flanking the polymorphism and within or surrounding the profilaggrin gene in order to prime amplifying genomic DNA of a sample taken from the individual that correspond to profillaggrin alleles of different filaggrin repeats. 
     
     
         27 . A diagnostic kit according to claim  1  wherein the primers are designed to distinguish alleles having 10 or 11 or 12 filaggrin repeats. 
     
     
         28 . A diagnostic kit according to claim  2 , the kit comprising:
 (a) A forward polymerase chain reaction primer, the forward primer having a nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 1: 5′ GGA TGA AGC CTA TGA CAC CAC 3′; and   (b) A reverse polymerase chain reaction primer having a nucleotide sequence SEQ ID NO: 2: 5′ GA CAG GAA AAG ATA TCC C 3′.   
     
     
         29 . The kit according to  claim 26  further comprising DNA polymerase. 
     
     
         30 . The kit according to  claim 26  further comprising dNTPs suitable for dilution to a 200 μM final concentration, a pair of oligonucleotide primers SEQ ID NO: 1: 5′ GGA TGA AGC CTA TGA CACCAC 3′ and SEQ ID NO: 2: 5′ GA CAG GAA AAG ATA ACT TCC C 3′, magnesium chloride solution suitable for dilution to 1.7 mM final concentration Mg 2+  and Elongase. 
     
     
         31 . The kit according to  claim 26  further comprising a personal care product which is suitable for use on an individual having a particular profilaggrin genotype. 
     
     
         32 . The kit according to  claim 26  further comprise instructions for using the components.