The present invention relates to the field of epidermal repair. Moreparticularly, the invention concerns the use of a molecule able to activate aheteromeric receptor comprising OSMR as a subunit, for the preparation of acomposition for activating in vitro and/or in vivo keratinocyte migrationand/or the expression of anti-microbial peptides by the keratinocytes. Inparticular, the invention concerns the use of OSM and/or IL-17 and/orTNF.alpha. and/or IL-31, or agonists thereof, for the preparation of cosmeticor dermatologic compositions.