Selena Gomez, diagnosed with lupus in 2013 and recipient of a kidney transplant at 24 in 2017, recently sparked discussions about her appearance. A doctor has now clarified the medical reason behind her ’round’ face.
Dr. Sermed Mezher, an award-winning doctor based in London, took to his social media channels after the Hollywood actress and singer posted a video of herself applying makeup from her line, Rare Beauty. Dr. Mezher, with qualifications including MBChB (Hons) MRes and a YouTube following of 216,000 subscribers, aims to simplify health with high-quality scientific content.
In his video, Dr. Mezher began by acknowledging the comments on Gomez’s appearance. “So many people commented after she posted this video. I personally think she looks great. But, what they were getting at is that her face is more rounded and puffy, and I’m going to explain why,” he said, via Daily Record.
He reminded viewers that Gomez, the “Calm Down” singer, had a kidney transplant in 2017 due to lupus, a chronic condition that causes joint pain, skin rashes, and fatigue. While there’s no cure, early treatment can alleviate symptoms.
Dr. Mezher explained, “As doctors, we try to match kidneys with their recipients as closely as possible, but even in twins there’s still a chance of rejection. If that happens, that can cause the recipient to become rapidly unwell and make the new organ fail, which is why we need to give the patient immunosuppressants.”
He further elaborated on the treatment: “Not just to prevent rejection, but to also control the underlying disease process, which is the immune system attacking our own bodies. A huge part of this immunosuppressive treatment is steroids, likely prednisone. They can cause side effects, like water retention, weight gain and something called ‘moon face’, where we become puffy and more rounded.”
Dr. Mezher concluded his video with an important reminder: “Let’s set our gaze more than skin deep.”
Steroid medications, particularly corticosteroids like prednisone, can cause “moon face,” a side effect characterized by a round, puffy appearance. This results from the medication’s impact on the body’s metabolism and fat distribution. Corticosteroids mimic cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, which regulates metabolism, immune response, and inflammation. High doses or prolonged use of corticosteroids can disrupt the body’s normal hormonal balance, leading to side effects like “moon face.”
Selena Gomez’s journey with lupus and her subsequent treatment has been challenging, but she continues to inspire many with her resilience and openness about her health struggles. Understanding the medical reasons behind her appearance helps foster compassion and awareness about the complexities of living with chronic conditions.