When a person has acne, oily deposits harden and pores become clogged when the secretions cannot escape, they fill with:?

When a person has acne, oily deposits (sebum) can combine with dead skin cells and other substances to form a plug in hair follicles. When these secretions cannot escape, they fill with a mixture of oil and dead skin cells, creating a plug or blockage known as a comedo. There are two main types of comedowns:

1. Open Comedo (Blackhead): When the pore is partially blocked, and the top of the plug is exposed to air, it oxidizes and turns black. This is what gives blackheads their characteristic color.
2. Closed Comedo (Whitehead): When the pore is completely blocked, and the plug is beneath the surface of the skin, it appears as a small, raised bump. Whiteheads do not have exposure to air, so they do not oxidize and remain white or flesh-colored.

The accumulation of these plugs, along with the presence of bacteria on the skin, can lead to inflammation, redness, and the formation of pimples, papules, pustules, and more severe forms of acne lesions. The clogging of pores is a key factor in the development of acne, and factors such as hormonal changes, genetics, and environmental influences can contribute to the overproduction of sebum and the formation of these plugs.