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The star has been touring heavily for the past several months, a fact sources say has contributed to her need for a little time off. Reuters

Selena Gomez surprised fans in December when she canceled 13 of her Stars Dance world tour shows in both Asia and Australia due to her need for a little personal time.

Though many initially speculated that the time off was the result of a possible relapse or breakdown, Popdust reports that Gomez is actually taking time to deal with symptoms of the autoimmune disease Lupus.

Sources told the site that the 21-year-old singer was diagnosed with the disease a few years ago and that she has recently suffered from "flares" that have resulted in facial swelling, intense fatigue, joint pain and headaches.

“Selena has been going full throttle the past few years and her Lupus is really catching up with her right now,” a source told Popdust. “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."

When asked by the Huffington Post if Gomez is suffering from Lupus, a rep for the singer said "no comment." But when news of the cancellations first broke, a source told E! News that the rehab rumors were not true and mentioned health concerns as the motivation for her "taking a little break."

Other celebrities like Nick Cannon and Toni Braxton suffer from the disease and have been able to successfully manage its symptoms through the rigor and demands of their careers.