Alopecia Explained: Root Causes, Gut Health & Hair Regrowth

Hair loss is often dismissed as a cosmetic issue—but what if it's actually one of your body's earliest warning signs?

In this episode of the Curious Cardiologist Podcast, Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj sits down with Johanna Dahlman, founder of Alopecia Angel, to uncover the root causes of alopecia and why conventional medicine often falls short.

After developing autoimmune alopecia in her early 30s, Johanna spent four years researching nutrition, functional medicine, lifestyle interventions, and autoimmune health before naturally restoring her hair. Today, she has helped thousands of people in more than 68 countries navigate hair loss by addressing the underlying drivers—not just the symptoms.

Together, they discuss autoimmune disease, gut health, stress, genetics, medications, supplements, hormones, pregnancy, longevity, and why hair loss is often a sign that something deeper is happening inside the body.

Whether you're experiencing hair loss yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply interested in preventative health, this conversation offers practical insights and a hopeful perspective.

Topics discussed:

✔ What alopecia really is
✔ Autoimmune hair loss
✔ Functional medicine
✔ Gut health and the microbiome
✔ Stress and chronic inflammation
✔ Hormones and women's health
✔ DNA testing and personalized medicine
✔ Hair loss medications
✔ Supplements that may actually worsen hair loss
✔ Why "aging" isn't the whole story
✔ Hair regrowth through lifestyle changes

Johanna also shares her personal journey of overcoming autoimmune alopecia naturally after being told there was no cure, and explains how that experience led her to help thousands of people worldwide.

If you've ever wondered why you're losing your hair—or what your body might be trying to tell you—this episode is for you.

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Timestamps

00:00 Introduction
01:20 Meet Johanna Dahlman
02:00 What Is Alopecia?
04:45 Johanna's Personal Hair Loss Story
08:00 Why Conventional Medicine Misses the Root Cause
10:30 The Functional Medicine Approach to Hair Loss
13:00 Healthcare Around the World
16:00 Is It Ever Too Early to Prevent Hair Loss?
18:30 DNA Testing & Personalized Medicine
20:00 Hidden Causes of Hair Loss
22:00 Breast Implants, Botox & Autoimmunity
24:30 Is Hair Loss Just Aging?
26:30 Can Exercise Improve Hair Growth?
28:00 Stress, Cortisol & Hair Loss
31:00 Diet, Nutrition & Protein
34:00 Medications That Cause Hair Loss
36:00 Supplements That May Be Making Things Worse
39:00 Gut Health & Autoimmune Disease
42:00 How Long Does Hair Regrowth Take?
45:00 Why There Isn't One Cure for Alopecia
47:30 Johanna's New Nonprofit Mission
50:00 Final Advice for Anyone Losing Their Hair
52:00 Rapid Fire Questions