Kao partners to launch RNA sebum test for determining infant-specific skincare

08 Mar 2023 --- Kao Corporation has partnered with Healthcare Systems to launch Babywell Check, the first mail-in testing service using skin surface lipids-RNA monitoring technology to stably store and transport the genetic material collected from infant sebum.

The Babywell Check mail-in testing service affords parents a non-invasive method to collect sebum by applying oil blotting film to the child’s skin. The service is not intended to diagnose disease.

Collecting sebum provides information about the barrier functions of an infant’s skin through sebum RNA data and provides an advantage in determining the appropriate skincare for the healthy development of atopic dermatitis, which is weak at that age.

Recent research by Johnson & Johnson found that adding lotion to a newborn skincare regimen after washing can “positively affect the microbiome” compared to just washing the baby according.

Routine use of an appropriately formulated emollient for infants will increase the richness of the skin microbiome and the levels of ceramides and free fatty acids – essential for a healthy skin barrier.

Branching into health testingThe testing kit allows parents to collect sebum from their babies non-invasively. 
Kao will branch into the health testing segment using this service launch as the first step. The company will also apply skin surface lipids-RNA monitoring technology and other proprietary technologies it has developed.

Healthcare Systems is a venture business started at Nagoya University that develops and distributes mail-in testing kits with the aim of preventing future diseases and maintaining health. In partnership with Kao, it will analyze and collect the RNA data.

Thus far, research has been able to infer various skin and physical conditions from the approximately 10,000 types of RNA expression information contained in sebum, giving this technology the potential to enable early detection of pediatric atopic dermatitis or Parkinson’s disease.

Kao has also developed technology allowing the stable room temperature preservation and transport of SSL-RNA collected from sebum, which otherwise degrades due to enzyme action if left unattended. SSL-RNA can, therefore, be collected anywhere, including the home, and mailed to a testing facility to analyze the information.

Meanwhile, Kao previously innovated two hygiene solutions for use in space by astronauts of the Japan Aerospace Research and Development Organization. The “3D Space Shampoo Sheet” offers a convenient hair-washing method that can easily wipe off the dirt from the scalp and hair, while the “Space Laundry Sheet” is a cleaning sheet for clothes that removes stains and odors from clothes.

Edited by Inga de Jong