While the celebrity lifestyle might seem like an endless experience of glitz and glamour to us mere mortals, it must be acknowledged that spending so much time in the spotlight has some downsides.

One of the biggest issues is that everything a famous person does comes under extreme scrutiny, and every little mistake they make tends to get remembered for all time. Take that Pepsi advert Kendall Jenner did last year, for example, or all those times Jay-Z cheated on Beyonce (sure, she might have moved past it - but we haven't): they might have happened a while ago, but we're not going to forget them any time soon.

In a broad sense, then, celebs are always expected to be perfect. To act perfect, to look perfect, and to set a perfect example to all of their fans.

But of course, just like the rest of us, they're only human - and one person who's out to prove that is Modern Family actress, Sarah Hyland.

Hyland, who is 27, recently took to Instagram to share a picture of the realistic side of her life - not just the side she shows when she's on the red carpet.

"Sometimes a selfie is more than just a good angle and feelin cute. This time for #nationalselfieday I've decided to share my truth. As painful as it is," she wrote.

The actress shared the message along with a picture of her face, which was swollen due to a chronic kidney condition.

"So here is my face that was torn from my work against my will," she said. "But I'm very grateful it was. Health should always come first."

Hyland has kidney dysplasia, a condition she's had since birth. The star has always been very open about her health problems and, even though she received a kidney transplant from her father back in 2012, she still suffers from the negative side effects of the medical treatments she uses.

"I don’t mind when you say that I look pregnant. Or fat. Because I know that my face is swollen from my medication that is saving my life," she said last year. "For those on Prednisone I know what you’re going through and I commend you sticking it out as I have."

At times, however, Hyland has the opposite problem, as long period of bed rest previously depleted her muscle mass and made her appear much thinner than she is used to.

"My circumstances have put me in a place where I'm not in control of what my body looks like," she said. "I have been told that I can't work out. Which, for me, is very upsetting. I am not a fan of 'being skinny'. Which many of you have told me that I am too much of."

But the actress refuses to let her illness get the better of her, and also makes sure that online trolls don't wear her down by insulting her appearance. Her decision to post these unfiltered selfies and honest accounts of a medical condition help those of us who are tired of comparing ourselves to "perfect" celebrities, and remind us that - beneath all the fame and status - we're all just people.

While the celebrity lifestyle might seem like an endless experience of glitz and glamour to us mere mortals, it must be acknowledged that spending so much time in the spotlight has some downsides.

One of the biggest issues is that everything a famous person does comes under extreme scrutiny, and every little mistake they make tends to get remembered for all time. Take that Pepsi advert Kendall Jenner did last year, for example, or all those times Jay-Z cheated on Beyonce (sure, she might have moved past it - but we haven't): they might have happened a while ago, but we're not going to forget them any time soon.

In a broad sense, then, celebs are always expected to be perfect. To act perfect, to look perfect, and to set a perfect example to all of their fans.

But of course, just like the rest of us, they're only human - and one person who's out to prove that is Modern Family actress, Sarah Hyland.

Hyland, who is 27, recently took to Instagram to share a picture of the realistic side of her life - not just the side she shows when she's on the red carpet.

"Sometimes a selfie is more than just a good angle and feelin cute. This time for #nationalselfieday I've decided to share my truth. As painful as it is," she wrote.

The actress shared the message along with a picture of her face, which was swollen due to a chronic kidney condition.

"So here is my face that was torn from my work against my will," she said. "But I'm very grateful it was. Health should always come first."

Hyland has kidney dysplasia, a condition she's had since birth. The star has always been very open about her health problems and, even though she received a kidney transplant from her father back in 2012, she still suffers from the negative side effects of the medical treatments she uses.

"I don’t mind when you say that I look pregnant. Or fat. Because I know that my face is swollen from my medication that is saving my life," she said last year. "For those on Prednisone I know what you’re going through and I commend you sticking it out as I have."

At times, however, Hyland has the opposite problem, as long period of bed rest previously depleted her muscle mass and made her appear much thinner than she is used to.

"My circumstances have put me in a place where I'm not in control of what my body looks like," she said. "I have been told that I can't work out. Which, for me, is very upsetting. I am not a fan of 'being skinny'. Which many of you have told me that I am too much of."

But the actress refuses to let her illness get the better of her, and also makes sure that online trolls don't wear her down by insulting her appearance. Her decision to post these unfiltered selfies and honest accounts of a medical condition help those of us who are tired of comparing ourselves to "perfect" celebrities, and remind us that - beneath all the fame and status - we're all just people.