Dr. Leslie A. Castelo

Leslie Castelo-Soccio, MD, PhD, is a dermatologist at Children's National Hospital and professor of Pediatrics and Dermatology at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She is an expert in hair disorders most notably alopecia areata as well as other autoimmune skin diseases. Her interests and expertise include hair, genetic skin disorders, neonatal dermatology, inflammatory skin diseases such as eczema/atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, pigmented lesions (moles), acne and vascular disorders. She is an expert in laser and surgical treatment for pediatric patients and provides services in the clinic and operating room. Dr. Castelo-Soccio has built a research career in alopecia and inflammatory skin disease and runs clinical trials on these diseases at Children's National. Dr. Castelo-Soccio has published extensively including peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on pediatric and medical dermatology. She is a national and international speaker on hair disorders and autoimmune skin disease. She is a member of the board of directors of the American Hair Research Association and has worked closely as a volunteer for the National Alopecia Areata Foundation and the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance. Dr. Castelo-Soccio received her bachelor's degree with honors in biological sciences from Harvard University and her MD and PhD from Cornell University - Weill Medical College. She completed residency training in dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania and her fellowship training in pediatric dermatology at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She is board certified in dermatology and pediatric dermatology. From 2011-2021 she was an attending physician at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. From 2021-2025 she was an attending physician and researcher at the National Institutes of Health, where she still serves as a special volunteer.

Dr. Castelo is highly rated in 28 conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Autosomal Recessive Hypotrichosis, Alopecia Areata, Lamellar Ichthyosis, and Nonbullous Congenital Ichthyosiform Erythroderma.

Dr. Castelo is board certified in American Board Of Dermatology, 2012 and Dermatology: American Board Of Dermatology, 2009. She is actively involved in clinical research, co-authoring 170 peer reviewed articles and participating in 3 clinical trials.