Understanding Why Selena Gomez's Face Can Appear Swollen at Times

Examining Why Selena Gomez's Face Appears Swollen at Times

Fans have noticed that singer and actress Selena Gomez's face occasionally appears puffy or swollen in photos. This has sparked questions and concerns about what could be causing this. Gomez has been open about her struggles with lupus, an autoimmune disease that can lead to facial swelling.

Selena Gomez's Lupus Diagnosis

In 2015, Gomez revealed she had been diagnosed with lupus several years prior. Lupus is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own healthy tissues. It can damage organs and cause widespread inflammation.

For Gomez, some of her notable symptoms have included fatigue, joint pain, skin rashes, anxiety and depression. She has also experienced complications like chemotherapy-induced lupus, kidney dysfunction, and a kidney transplant in 2017.

Despite ongoing health issues, Gomez has strived to raise public awareness about lupus through her platform as a celebrity.

How Lupus Causes Facial Swelling

Facial swelling is a common symptom of lupus due to inflammation and fluid buildup. Causes include:

• Kidney inflammation - Lupus nephritis causes fluid retention and edema in the face and limbs.
• Blood clots - Antiphospholipid antibodies increase clot risk, which hampers circulation.
• Skin rashes - Facial rashes and lesions weep fluid when inflamed.
• Joint pain - Jaw arthritis limits movement, resulting in fluid pooling under the chin.

Factors like sun exposure, stress, infections, and medications can provoke lupus flares and swelling episodes. Changes in appearance can come and go with disease activity.

Notable Examples of Selena's Facial Swelling

Fans have spotted Gomez's puffy face several times over the years:

• In 2013, she appeared swollen while promoting her Stars Dance Tour, leading to lupus speculation.
• In 2015, severe bloating while on chemotherapy for lupus was visible during a Jingle Ball performance.
• In 2016, she looked puffy in paparazzi photos taken on a hike, sparking renewed health concerns.
• In 2017, she experienced facial swelling before her kidney transplant related to the surgery.
• In 2022 fan photos again showed noticeable fullness around her cheeks and under eyes.

For someone with lupus, shifts in appearance from inflammation are not unusual even with treatment. Fluid retention can change from day-to-day.

Other Causes of Facial Swelling to Consider

While lupus seems the likely cause of Gomez's swelling episodes, some other possibilities include:

• Medication side effects - Corticosteroids like prednisone commonly cause fluid retention and puffiness.
• Allergies - Allergic reactions can trigger significant facial swelling.
• Infection - Sinus infections or abscessed teeth may lead to localized facial swelling.
• Diet - Excess sodium intake can exacerbate fluid retention issues.
• Thyroid disorders - Hypothyroidism is linked to facial puffiness.

However, Gomez has not indicated any specific triggers other than her lupus. Her reps have not provided details on reasons behind her swelling episodes.

How Selena Gomez Is Coping with Lupus

Living with a chronic autoimmune disease like lupus presents ongoing challenges. For a young star like Gomez, the changes in appearance can also impact self-esteem and mental health. She has shared some of her coping strategies with the public.

Seeking Effective Medical Treatment

Gomez undergoes chemotherapy infusions to suppress her overactive immune system and inflammation. She takes medications like Plaquenil for symptom management. She has also benefitted from therapies like acupuncture, massage, and emotional support dogs to help cope with lupus.

Her kidney transplant in 2017 improved her outlook and stamina. She continues to work closely with her medical team to explore all options for keeping lupus controlled.

Making Health a Top Priority

After years of pushing through illness to keep up her demanding career, Gomez has shifted to putting her health first. This has meant taking breaks from work, doing less touring, and deprioritizing professional commitments when needed.

She focuses on getting adequate rest, eating nutritiously, minimizing stress, and listening to her body's signals. She has become selective about how she expends her limited energy.

Practicing Self-Care and Gratitude

Gomez engages in therapeutic self-care like yoga, meditation, journaling and spending time outdoors. She avoids situations that drain her energy when possible. Practicing gratitude for what her body can do helps counter feelings of frustration over its limitations.

She also leans on her faith, family, and close friends for support through flares. Having strong emotional support bolsters her resilience.

Using Her Platform to Raise Awareness

By publicly discussing her health battles, Gomez hopes to increase lupus understanding and empathy for those suffering from less visible illnesses. Her transparency has brought visibility to the lupus community.

She works to be a role model for managing chronic disease responsibly and overcoming the stigma around health issues that alter appearance. Her vulnerability has connected with many fans dealing with their own challenges.

Embracing Self-Acceptance

Gomez makes an effort not to judge herself harshly on days when her face appears swollen or health limits her capabilities. She focuses more now on self-love and less on perfectionism.

She once noted: Im in no way a perfect person, but Im proud of knowing who I am and where I came from. This self-acceptance allows her to be at peace with lupus as part of her journey.

What Selena Gomezs Lupus Battle Can Teach Us

Beyond explaining her facial swelling, Gomez's public lupus battle contains many insightful lessons that we can all learn from and be inspired by in facing health challenges.

Listen to Your Body

Gomez experienced years of vague symptoms like fatigue, aching joints, mood changes and fluid retention before finally being diagnosed with lupus. Her facial swelling while touring in 2013 was an early public indicator.

It's important to tune into subtle body changes and seek medical guidance when something feels off, rather than ignore the signs. Catching autoimmune disease early improves outcomes.

Manage Stress Wisely

Stress is a common lupus flare trigger. For years Gomez pushed herself excessively between acting, music, and other ventures - likely exacerbating her disease. She now prioritizes reducing stress by adding in rest and saying no.

Learning your stress limits and not exceeding them can help tame inflammation and symptoms.

Embrace Your Limits

Lupus forced Gomez to realize she can't do it all. After constantly battling exhaustion to keep up a grueling schedule, she finally embraced her limits. She conservatively expends her energy and takes breaks to prevent burnout.

Accepting your health boundaries with grace, not frustration, enables you to thrive within them.

Don't Suffer in Silence

Gomez kept her lupus diagnosis private for several years before going public in 2015. By opening up about her disease, she discovered tremendous support and reduced stigma.

Being vocal about your health struggles can connect you with others facing similar battles so you don't have to journey alone.

Focus on Wellness and Self-Care

Between medical care, therapy, support systems, lifestyle changes and self-care practices, Gomez has assembled a wellness toolbox that equips her to navigate lupus.

Making self-care and stress management daily priorities helps keep autoimmune disease controlled and your quality of life high.

Have Patience with Your Body

Lupus is a disease of flares and remissions. Gomez has ridden the rollercoaster of good and bad days for years. She emphasizes having patience and compassion for yourself through ups and downs.

Progress isnt linear when dealing with autoimmunity. Appreciate your body during calmer periods and be gentle with it during flares.

The Outlook for Those with Lupus

Despite being a lifelong condition without a cure, many people with lupus live full, mostly healthy lives with proper medical care and self-management. Some key points to know include:

• Most people with lupus experience periods of low disease activity interspersed with flares.
• Following an anti-inflammatory diet and healthy lifestyle helps minimize symptoms.
• A range of medications are available that can effectively control the immune system.
• Blood tests help track disease activity so treatment can be adjusted as needed.
• Many women with lupus can have successful pregnancies with proper planning and monitoring.
• Ongoing medical research brings hope for improved therapies.

While living with lupus poses challenges, the diagnosis is no longer the death sentence it once was. Today's treatments allow many to manage their symptoms successfully and feel well most of the time.

Selena Gomez's lupus journey in the public eye has significantly raised awareness of this complex autoimmune disease. Her vulnerability and resilience has empowered other patients living with chronic illness. By boldly speaking her truth, she has touched countless lives and exemplifies the possibility of not just surviving, but thriving with a condition like lupus.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.