Method of inducing melanogenesis in humans with MC1R variant alleles

A method for inducing melanogenesis in a human subject having a melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) variant allele associated with loss of or diminished receptor function, which comprises the steps of:

• i) identifying the MC1R variant using primer sequences selected from 5′-tggacaggactatggctgtg-3′ (MC1R-1F—SEQ ID NO:1), 5′-tcttcagcacgctcttcat-3′ (MC1R-1R—SEQ ID NO:2), 5′cttctacgcactgcgctacc-3′ (MC1R-2F—SEQ ID NO:
• 3) and 5′-gctttaagtgtgctgggcag-3′ (MC1R-2R—SEQ ID NO:
• 4), and
• ii) administering to said subject an amount of [Nle4, DPhe7]-α-melanocyte stimulating hormone ([Nle4, DPhe7]-α-MSH) effective to induce melanogenesis by the melanocytes in the skin or other epidermal tissue of the subject.