Global pop star Selena Gomez has opened up about developing arthritis as a consequence of lupus. The singer, who has long been candid about her health challenges, was first diagnosed with lupus in 2013 and later underwent a kidney transplant. In a recent conversation with Amy Poehler on her podcast ‘Good Hang with Amy Poehler,’ Gomez discussed her Rare Beauty brand, including its easy-to-use packaging, and shared how her personal health experiences influenced these choices. “I have arthritis in my fingers because of my lupus,” she said. “Before I started the right treatment, even simple things like opening a water bottle were really painful.”What Is Lupus?Lupus is an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation throughout the body. In this disease, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues instead of protecting them. Depending on which tissues are affected, lupus can impact the skin, blood, joints, kidneys, brain, heart, or lungs.ALSO READ: Can Leg Workouts Help Protect Your Brain From Ageing? Expert Weighs In Medically known as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), lupus can affect anyone, though it is far more common in women, particularly those between 15 and 45 years of age. Symptoms vary widely and may include joint pain, fatigue, rashes, and even complications involving internal organs. The disease is unpredictable—it can remain quiet for months and then flare up suddenly, often without warning.For Selena Gomez, lupus has been more than a medical diagnosis; it has profoundly influenced her life. She first publicly shared her lupus diagnosis in 2015, explaining how she had to pause her career to focus on treatment.How Does Lupus Trigger Arthritis?On a recent episode of Good Hang with Amy Poehler, Selena Gomez revealed that lupus caused arthritis in her fingers. Unlike osteoarthritis, which results from joint wear and tear, lupus-related arthritis stems from immune system dysfunction. When the immune system attacks its own tissues, it can lead to:Inflammation and swelling in the joints, particularly in the hands, wrists, and kneesPainful stiffness, often worse in the morningFlare-ups that make even simple tasks, like opening a water bottle, difficultALSO READ: Hepatitis B Vaccination Timeline For Children Under Review Without Scientific Data, Says Former CDC Director Susan MonarezResearch published in Maedica: A Journal of Clinical Medicine shows that around 95 percent of lupus patients experience joint pain. For some, like Selena, it can significantly affect daily life. Beyond joint pain, lupus may also cause:Painless mouth soresSkin rashes, including the classic butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and noseFatigue and unexplained feversChest pain or difficulty breathingHeadaches, dizziness, brain fog, or confusionSensitivity to light and hair lossEarly Signs of Lupus in FemalesLupus predominantly affects women, with about nine out of ten cases occurring in females. Early recognition is key to timely diagnosis and effective management. Common early signs include:Persistent fatigueJoint pain or swelling, especially in hands, wrists, and kneesSkin rashes, particularly the butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and noseHair thinning or hair lossMouth soresSensitivity to sunlightRaynaud’s phenomenon, where fingers and toes turn white or blue in response to cold or stressBecause lupus symptoms can overlap with those of other conditions, it is often called "the great imitator," making early detection challenging.Managing LupusCurrently, there is no cure for lupus. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and reducing flare-ups, with the goal of putting the disease into remission, which means long periods without symptoms.
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