These appearances are typical of the condition, whereby there is recurrent obstruction to sweat (apocrine) glands in various locations especially the axillae and groins leading to secondary infection. These present as recurrent painful, red swellings that contain pus and should be differentiated from obstucted sebaceous glands that tend to be rounder and less prone to infection.  The condition tends to run in families and to be more common in certain ethnic groups.