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Toni Braxton may be a pianist and a multi-talented artist, but the celebrity has faced many health challenges throughout her career. In 2008, Braxton was diagnosed with Lupus, an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks skin and organs.
Since looking good is part of a celebrity’s job—Toni Braxton’s Lupus medications are causing her some serious challenges.
Toni Braxton’s Lupus Battle
Toni Braxton’s Lupus sickness has a big impact on her health, career, and day-to-day life. In 2012, she was hospitalized due to a Lupus flare-up. While Braxton says that her Lupus is now more under control, the medications and treatment can affect her appearance and weight.
In a recent Toni Braxton Lupus interview that took place on daytime TV, Braxton opened up about her struggle dealing with the disease and people’s perception of her looks. According to Braxton, criticism has been leveled at her recently, with people suggesting she’s using plastic surgery and Botox.
Toni Braxton’s Lupus Medications: Weight Gain and Public Criticism
However, Braxton says that her changing looks are due to the Lupus medications she takes. To treat her Lupus, Braxton has to take steroids, which can cause her face to look puffier. It is this puffiness that makes her face look tighter, which some people mistake for Botox.
Braxton says that Lupus medications can cause weight gain. This makes it more challenging to stay in shape and retain a fit figure. However, Braxton says that weight gain isn’t always bad and that people can still look good at a bigger size.
Toni Braxton Won’t Let Lupus Slow Her Down!
The singer takes her new “Toni Braxton Lupus looks” in stride, refusing to let the disease or her changing appearance slow her down. Along with continuing to tour and sing, Braxton is now the star of her own reality TV show and has a Lifetime movie based on her personal story.
Of course, like anyone with the disease, Toni Braxton’s Lupus battle is far from easy. Lupus can be a difficult disease to manage and there is no known cure. Lupus can cause debilitating symptoms and damage to the body.
How Lupus Affects the Body
With Lupus, there is chronic inflammation in the body that can affect skin, joints, muscle, lungs, the heart, kidneys, and the brain, among other parts of the body. The disease also goes through cycles, with flare-ups and periods of remission.
It is not known what causes Lupus. However, for people with the disease, there are certain factors which can increase their risk of a flare-up. These factors include lack of sleep and a poor diet, which can both worsen symptoms.
When it comes to Toni Braxton’s Lupus—cures are not yet available, but she has managed to control her condition using medication. In some instances, Lupus can require more severe treatment. Pop singer and actress Selena Gomez also suffers from the condition and had to undergo chemotherapy as part of her treatment regimen.
Lupus affects more women than men. It is also more common in people of color, like Toni Braxton and Selena Gomez. The disease affects roughly 1.5 million people in the U.S.
Toni Braxton’s Lupus medications may make her look a little puffy, but by fighting on and refusing to give in to the disease; Braxton has shown that you can still accomplish a lot while having Lupus or other similar health challenges.
Sources:
Corbett, Holly C., “Why Was Toni Braxton Hospitalized for Lupus?” Prevention.com, January 17, 2012, http://www.prevention.com/health/health-concerns/lupus-signs-and-symptoms-toni-braxton-hospitalized.
Harding, Anne, “9 Celebrities with Lupus,” Health.com, http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20462443,00.html#toni-braxton-0, last accessed August 8, 2016.
