Abstract: The RhoE GTPase pathway has been identified as a target for screening and treatment methods for the prevention and/or reduction of short- and long-term UVB-induced skin damage, e.g., the prevention and/or reduction of UVB-induced wrinkles. The invention thus features screening and treatment methods for prevention or reduction of UVB-induced skin damage, and related compositions, e.g., cosmetic compositions.

Abstract: The RhoE GTPase pathway has been identified as a target for screening and treatment methods for the prevention and/or reduction of short- and long-term UVB-induced skin damage, e.g., the prevention and/or reduction of UVB-induced wrinkles. The invention thus features screening and treatment methods for prevention or reduction of UVB-induced sin damage, and related compositions, e.g., cosmetic compositions.

Abstract: A wrinkle-preventing and -improving composition comprising one or more than one compound selected from the group consisting of ?-amino acid derivatives represented by the following general formula (1) and salts thereof: wherein, R1 represents hydrogen atom, CH3 group or CH2OH group, R2 and R3 each independently represent hydrogen atom, alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbons, provided that R2 and R3 cannot be hydrogen atom at the same time, or R2 and R3 together with N atom to which they are bound may form a ring structure having a total carbon number of 4 to 6, in which case said ring structure may optionally contain an oxygen atom as a heteroatom, R4 represents hydrogen atom, alkyl group having 1 to 18 carbons, wherein when R1 and R4 are hydrogen atom, it cannot be that one of R2 and R3 is benzyloxycarbonyl group and the other is hydrogen atom.

Abstract: An effectiveness evaluating method evaluates effectiveness of an external preparation for skin for protection against ultraviolet irradiation after the external preparation is applied to the skin. The method includes a measurement step of measuring an amount of urocanic acid in a horny cell layer by Raman spectroscopy both before and after the application of the external preparation and both before and after exposure to ultraviolet irradiation, an index derivation step of computing at least one index for evaluating the effectiveness of the external preparation based on results of the measurement obtained in the measurement step, and an evaluation step of evaluating the effectiveness of the external preparation by using the index obtained in the index derivation step.

Abstract: A wrinkle-preventing and -improving composition comprising one or more than one compound selected from the group consisting of ?-amino acid derivatives represented by the following general formula (1) and salts thereof: wherein, R1 represents hydrogen atom, CH3 group or CH2OH group, R2 and R3 each independently represent hydrogen atom, alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbons, provided that R2 and R3 cannot be hydrogen atom at the same time, or R2 and R3 together with N atom to which they are bound may form a ring structure having a total carbon number of 4 to 6, in which case said ring structure may optionally contain an oxygen atom as a heteroatom, R4 represents hydrogen atom, alkyl group having 1 to 18 carbons, wherein when R1 and R4 are hydrogen atom, it cannot be that one of R2 and R3 is benzyloxycarbonyl group and the other is hydrogen atom.

Abstract: An anti-hair graying agent containing, as an active ingredient, a substance having a superior anti-hair graying action, for example, aminocyclohexane carboxylic acid, aminocyclohexane carboxylic acid esters such as aminocyclohexane carboxylic acid ethyl ester, aminocyclohexane derivatives such as aminocyclohexanol, and piperidinecarboxylic acid, piperidinecarboxylic acid esters such as piperidinecarboxylic acid ethyl ester, and piperidine derivatives such as hydroxypiperidine is provided.