The singer and actress recently shared a revelation that surprised her followers and, at the same time, raised concerns about her health. She opened up about one of the consequences lupus has had on her body and how she has dealt with it.
Selena was first diagnosed with lupus in 2013, a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues and organs, including the skin and joints. She announced her condition to the public in 2015 and decided to take a temporary break from music to focus on her health.
The Consequences of Lupus for Selena Gomez
During a recent appearance on the podcast Good Hang with Amy Poehler, Gomez recalled that by 2019—just before launching her beauty brand Rare Beauty—the disease had significantly affected her physical abilities. She described moments when even simple actions caused her intense pain. “I have arthritis in my fingers because of lupus. I remember trying to open a water bottle, and it hurt so much before I was on the right medication,” Gomez revealed.
Her struggle with lupus even inspired her approach to Rare Beauty. She designed the brand’s packaging with accessibility in mind, ensuring that people with limited dexterity could use her products without assistance.
Gomez also explained that when she was first diagnosed, she underwent rounds of chemotherapy. Her hiatus from the spotlight at the time wasn’t just to rest, but to recover from treatments that she said were essential: without them, she risked suffering a stroke.
Today, Selena is under medical care that helps keep her symptoms stable. Despite the challenges, she seems to be living her life with relative normalcy. Most recently, she’s been preparing for her upcoming wedding and was even spotted celebrating her bachelorette party with friends.
