Is Selena Gomez secretly suffering from Lupus? New claims singer cancelled tour because of autoimmune disease



A week ago Selena Gomez cancelled the Australian and Asian leg of her tour, saying she needed to spend some time on herself.

Now it has been claimed the reason she pulled out of the gigs is because she is suffering from an illness called Lupus. (A spokesperson for the singer had no comment when contacted by MailOnline on Friday.)



Website Popdust reports sources close to the 21-year-old singer as saying she was diagnosed with the condition 'a couple of years ago' and that it has recently flared up again.

Recovering: Selena Gomez, seen here performing in New York earlier this month at the Jingle Ball 2013 in Madison Square Garden, is said to have cancelled her tour due to a flare up of autoimmune disease Lupus



Lupus refers to a collection of autoimmune diseases; it causes the body's immune system to attack normal healthy cells and the impacts can be wide-ranging, effecting joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, the heart, and lungs.



Symptoms include facial swelling, fatigue, headaches and joint pain. It can also be fatal, particularly if the it attacks the cardiovascular system.

Other celebrities with the condition include Seal, Nick Cannon and Toni Braxton - Michael Jackson also suffered with it.



One Gomez source told Popdust: 'Selena has been going full throttle the past few years and her Lupus is really catching up with her right now.



'She knows that she needs to take some time to address the disease and look after herself better if she wants to live a full and healthy life.'

Lupus is an incurable condition; sufferers commonly experience 'flares' followed by periods of remission.



It is far more prevalent in women than men and can be treated with medication to manage the flare-ups.