1. Mary Jo Bowie MS, BS, AAS, RHIA, RHIT

2. Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue
CHAPTER 17
Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue

3. Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue—Code Range L00-L99
Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue are reported from Chapter 12 of ICD-10-CM.
This chapter contains codes for diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue as well as the nails, sweat glands, hair, and hair follicles.
This system is also known as the integumentary system.

4. Three Layers of the Skin
The skin is specialized tissue made up of
three layers.
Epidermis—Outermost layer
Dermis—Thick layer below the epidermis
Subcutaneous layer—Connects to the muscle surface and connects the fat cells

5. Cross Section of the Skin
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6. Infections of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue—L00-L08
This block of codes reports:
Impetigo
Cutaneous abscess, furuncle, and carbuncle
Cellulitis and acute lymphangitis
Many of the codes are site specific, and an
instructional notation appears at the start of the
block that indicates that an additional code should
be added to identify the infectious agent.

7. Bullous Disorders—L10-L14
There are four categories in this block:
L10—Pemphigus
L11—Other acantholytic disorders
L12—Pemphigoid
L13—Other bullous disorders
L14- Bullous disorders in disease classified elsewhere

8. Dermatitis and Eczema—L20-L30
In this block of codes, the terms dermatitis and
eczema are used interchangeably.
The various types of dermatitis are:
Atophic
Seborrheic
Diaper
Allergic contact, irritant contact
Exfoliative
Dermatitis due to substances taken internally

9. Codes L20-L30 (cont.) Also within this block are codes for:
Lichen simplex chronicus and prurigo
Pruritus
Other and unspecified dermatitis, such as nummular and infective dermatitis

10. Papulosquamous Disorders—L40-L45
These categories report:
Psoriasis- L40
Parapsoriasis- L41
Pityriasis rosea- L42
Lichen planus- L43
Other papulosquamous disorders- L44 and L45

11. Urticaria and Erythema—L50-L54
These categories report:
Urticaria- L50
Erythema multiforme- L51
Erythema nodosum- L52
Other erythematous conditions such as toxic erythema and chronic conditions- L53
Erythema in diseases classified elsewhere-L54

12. Radiation-Related Disorders of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue—L55-L59
This block reports:
Sunburn: according to the degree of burn
Skin changes due to ultraviolent radiation
Skin changes due to chronic exposure to nonionizing radiation
Radiodermatitis
Other disorders related to radiation
It should be noted that many of these codes
contain an instructional notation to use an
additional code.

13. Disorders of Skin Appendages—L60-L75
This block reports:
Nail disorders- L60
Alopecia- L61 and L64
Nonscarring and scarring hair loss- L65 and L66
Hair color and hair shaft abnormalities- L67
Hypertrichosis- L68
Acne- L70
Rosacea- L71
Follicular cysts of skin and subcutaneous tissue- L72
Other follicular disorders- L73
Sweat disorders- L74 and L75

14. Intraoperative and Postprocedural Complications of Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue—L76
This block includes complications that occur
after an operation or procedure.
The code descriptions need to be closely
read for detail.

15. Other Disorders of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue—L80-L99
This block includes:
Vitiligo
Disorders of pigmentation
Seborrheic keratosis
Corns and callosities
Epidermal thickening
Keratoderma in diseases classified elsewhere
Transepidermal elimination disorders
Pressure ulcers and nonpressure chronic ulcers

16. Pressure Ulcers
Pressure ulcers are also known as decubitus ulcers, bedsores, or pressure sores.
ICD-10-CM defines the stages of ulceration in stages I to IV.
The site and stage of the ulceration must be known for proper code assignment.

17. Decubitus Ulcer Sties of Bed-bound Patient
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18. Decubitus Ulcer Sites of Wheelchair-bound Patient
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19. Official ICD-10-CM Guidelines for Coding and Reporting
The Official Guidelines address:
Pressure Ulcer Stage Codes
Pressure ulcer stages
Unstageable pressure ulcers
Documented pressure ulcer stage

20. Official ICD-10-CM Guidelines for Coding and Reporting Continued
Patients admitted with pressure ulcers documented as healed
Patients admitted with pressure ulcers documented as healing
Patients admitted with pressure ulcers evolving into another stage during the admission.

21. Coding Practice Select the code for the following:
Subcutanous cellulitis of the right finger

22. Coding Practice Solution
Main term to reference in index:
Cellulitis
Modifying term:
Finger, (subcutaneous)
Code Assignment:
L03.011