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Aims: Our work demonstrates that after both rape and consensual sexual intercourse, women with light skin have higher ano-genital injury prevalence than women with dark skin. These findings suggest that the mechanical properties of dark skin may be more protective than those of light skin. If these findings are generalizable, they may have an impact on criminal justice proceedings, where injury from rapes is linked with successful legal outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are differences in skin elasticity between females with dark skin, as compared to those with light skin. 
Methods: We enrolled 52 healthy female participants ≥18 years (M=30.8; SD=12.3), with a variety of ethnic backgrounds in a cross-sectional descriptive study, we measured skin color (L*=light/dark; a*=red/green; b*=yellow/blue) by means of spectrophotometry. We measured skin elasticity variables (e.g, skin deformation, elasticity, and recovery) with a Cutometer MPA580. 
Results: Skin color L* values ranged from 796.96-7,229.33 (M=6,238.96; SD=1116). While the correlation between skin color and skin elasticity was insignificant (r=0.14), a statistically significant inverse relationship was found between age and skin elasticity (r2=-0.62, p<.0001). 
Conclusions: The strong inverse relationship of age and skin elasticity indicates an increased risk of skin injury as women age. This data did not support the theory that skin elasticity is associated with color.  Study limitations include a disproportionate number of participants ≤25 years, with light skin, and self-identifying as White/Caucasian.  Future work will include a larger sample, with greater parity across ages, race/ethnicities, and skin colors.

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