Selena Gomez reveals lupus flare-up adds difficulty to her ongoing health battle

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Singer and actress Selena Gomez shared a new update in her ongoing health journey, revealing that she has developed arthritis linked to her lupus diagnosis.

Gomez has spoken openly about her battle with lupus since 2015, shedding light on a condition that often affects people far earlier than many realize.

Selena Gomez’s health battle takes painful turn

Lupus, formally known as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s healthy tissues. “Lupus patients classically make antibodies that target their own body’s healthy proteins and structures,” explained Irene Blanco, professor and director of lupus clinical services at Northwestern University’s Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute in Chicago.

These antibodies can damage joint tissues or form immune complexes that settle in the joints, triggering swelling, stiffness, warmth, and pain.

According to Dr. Adam Kreitenberg, a rheumatologist and scientific advisor with 1MD Nutrition in California, arthritis is among the most common issues lupus patients face. Up to 90% of those living with SLE experience joint pain or arthritis at some point. “The arthritis of lupus can be quite disabling when inadequately treated,” he told Fox News Digital.

While lupus arthritis may not cause the permanent joint damage typically seen in rheumatoid arthritis, it can still be profoundly debilitating. The National Institutes of Health notes that more than 90% of lupus patients report joint or muscle pain.

Experts caution that not all pain stems directly from lupus. Overlapping conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, gout, or fibromyalgia, as well as side effects from medications such as steroids, can complicate the picture.

“This is why it’s so important to tease out the different causes of pain,” Blanco emphasized. “Management may change depending on what’s really driving the symptoms.”

The Lupus Foundation of America stresses that lupus should not be confused with arthritis, even though arthritis often develops as a symptom. “It is very important not to make this mistake,” the organization notes. “Lupus is quite different than any other illness that causes arthritis. It should not be lumped in with these other causes of arthritis because the causes and the treatments are very different.”

How lupus arthritis differs from other types of arthritis

Lupus arthritis, a form of joint inflammation associated with lupus, can cause significant discomfort and impact daily life, especially for young women. Unlike other types of arthritis, which may result from wear and tear or injury, lupus arthritis is primarily driven by inflammation.

“After a long time of uncontrolled lupus, however, people can have damage in the joints, which causes problems even when the lupus is not flaring,” notes the Lupus Foundation. “Other forms of arthritis are caused by sports injuries, being overweight, or by inflammation that is different from the type of inflammation seen in lupus.”

The Cleveland Clinic highlights that lupus most often strikes women between the ages of 15 and 45, making Gomez’s experience a reminder that arthritis can affect even people in their 20s and 30s.

For many, this pain can disrupt work, school, and daily life.

“Selena Gomez is a reminder that joint pain and arthritis can be part of life even for people in their 20s and 30s,” said Dr. Adam Kreitenberg.

“Most importantly, prompt evaluation by a doctor is critical when new or worsening joint pain develops,” Kreitenberg added. “Early recognition and treatment of lupus arthritis can prevent long-term disability and improve quality of life.”