The invention provides a cosmetic or therapeutic method for combating canities and / or stimulating natural pigmentation and / or treating a
pigmentation disorder comprising administering at least one
polynucleotide fragment comprising 18 consecutive nucleotides, the sequence of which corresponds to all or part of a
gene on human
chromosome 3 selected from KIAA 042, CCK, CACNA1D, ARHGEF3 and AL133097 genes, or the sequence of which corresponds to all or part of a
gene on human
chromosome 5 selected from the KLHL3, HNRPA0, CDC25C, EGR1, C5orf6, C5orf7, LOC51308, ETF1, HSPA9B, PCDHA1 to PCDHA13, CSF1R, RPL7, PDGFRB, TCOF1, AL133039, CD74, RPS14, NDST1, G3BP, GLRA1, C5orf3, MFAP3, GALNT10 and FLJ 117151 genes, or the sequence of which corresponds to all or part of a
gene on human
chromosome 11 selected from the GUCY1A2, CUL5, ACAT1, NPAT, ATM, AF035326, AF035327, AF035328, BC029536, FLJ20535, DRD2, ENS303941, IGSF4, LOC51092, BC010946, TAGLN, PCSK7 and ENS300650 genes, and
diagnostic methods employing same.