Leslie Castelo-Soccio, MD, PhD – Norwood Lecturer
Associate Director of Clinical Research, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
Dr. Castelo-Soccio will speak on: The Microbiome and Hair Loss
Leslie Castelo-Soccio, MD, PhD, received her undergraduate degree from Harvard University and her medical and doctoral degrees from Cornell University. After training in dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania, she completed a pediatric dermatology fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a post-doctoral fellowship in the laboratory of George Cotsarelis, MD at the University of Pennsylvania and served on the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania for 10 years. Between 2021-2025, she was an Associate Research Physician at the National Institutes of Health directing microbiome and alopecia areata protocols and served as the Associate Director of Clinical Research for the National Institutes of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. In June 2025, she became a Professor of Dermatology and Pediatrics at The George Washington University and is an attending physician at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC.
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Watch Lecture Intro Video
Summary Notes for Intro Video
An introduction to Dr. Leslie Castello-Socio’s upcoming presentation at the ISHRS World Congress, where she’ll share her insights on: “The Microbiome and Hair Loss.”
Introduction:
Dr. Sam Lam, Program Chair for the upcoming ISHRS Annual Congress, welcomes keynote speaker Dr. Leslie Castello-Socio, dermatologist and pediatric dermatology specialist. In this conversation, Dr. Castello-Socio shares her pioneering research on the skin microbiome and its role in hair disorders—particularly scarring alopecias like Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA). The episode highlights how genetics, inflammation, and microbiome dysbiosis may contribute to hair loss and what that means for future therapies.
Key Discussion Points:
[00:01:45] The Skin Microbiome and Hair Disorders
An exploration of how microbiome imbalance influences inflammatory skin diseases like alopecia areata. Dr. Castello-Socio discusses her research focus on CCCA and its prevalence among recruited women in the Washington, DC area who are all of African descent.
[00:02:10] Microbiome: Cause or Effect?
A discussion of whether microbial imbalances are a cause or result of scarring. Mice studies suggest dysbiosis can trigger inflammation that leads to scarring.
[00:03:15] Current Research and Therapeutic Potential
Insights into the use of single-cell RNA sequencing to pinpoint inflammation markers and map microbial shifts, as well as challenges in developing clinical applications to correct microbiome imbalances.
[00:03:45] Comparisons with Other Scarring Alopecias
Limited data exists for other scarring alopecias like Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia (FFA). Bacterial profiles vary widely across types and between studies, complicating conclusions.
[00:04:35] Dr. Lam’s Personal Story on Diet and Hair Health
Dr. Lam shares how dietary changes and weight loss improved his crown thinning without medication, emphasizing the connection between lifestyle and hair health.
[00:5:15] Microbiome Research in Alopecia Areata and Fecal Transplants
Studies on siblings show gut microbiome differences in those with alopecia areata. Fecal transplant results indicate promising therapeutic implications.
[00:06:30] Future Implications for Other Types of Alopecia
Microbiome-based treatments may play a role in managing androgenetic and scarring alopecias as scientific understanding grows.
Dr. Castelo-Soccio’s Notable Quotes:
“We know that once we see any type of scarring, even in really early stages, we already see changes in the biodiversity of the microbiome on the scalp.”
“The gut microbiome, which cross-reacts with skin microbiome, plays a huge role in disease states.”
Conclusion:
This segment offers a compelling look at the intersection of microbiome science and hair loss treatment. Dr. Leslie Castello-Socio’s research into scarring alopecias provides hope for more targeted, natural therapeutic approaches in the future.
Don’t miss her lecture at the ISHRS Congress in Berlin, October 23–25, 2025, where she will present more in-depth findings on the role of the microbiome in hair loss.