NEW YORK - Singer Avril Lavigne is suffering from undisclosed health issues, and has asked a fan to "keep me in your prayers".

On Sunday, she had replied "Thank you," to a message from a Twitter fan account that reads "#GetWellSoonAvril #PrayForAvril", reported Billboard.com.

The fan account @AvrilMusicChart on Tuesday posted a screenshot of a chat with Lavigne over the weekend.

In that exchange, Lavigne was asked if she was working on new music.

She replied, "I feel bad because I haven't been able to say anything to the fans to let them no (sic) why I've been absent.

"I'm torn as I'm quite private... I'm not feeling well. I'm having some health issues. So please keep me in your prayers."

Her representative confirmed to Billboard that the exchange was authentic.

The representative did not say what illness Lavigne is suffering from but said she is not pregnant.

Lavigne, 30, and and Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger, 39, married in July last year.

Last November, Kroeger laughed off reports of a marital split, which were fuelled when he missed her 30th birthday party in September.