Alopecia ICD 10 Code

Refresher: What are ICD-10 codes?

ICD-10 is a medical classification list by the WHO (World Health Organization). ICD, or the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, is the 10th revision that contains codes for the following [¹]:

• Diseases
• Signs and symptoms of diseases
• Complaints
• Abnormal findings
• External causes of injury, etc.

The World Health Organization has managed and published the standard version of the ICD. However, many member states can modify it to suit their needs. The codes are further divided into the following categories:

• ICD-10-CM
• ICD-10-PCS

ICD-10-CM (Clinical Modification) is used for diagnosis, whereas ICD-10-PCS (Procedure Coding System) is used in in-patient settings for coding procedures.

Using these codes, healthcare providers are able to categorize a patient's symptoms and create a treatment plan tailored to suit their needs. Understanding the type and location of a disease/condition is the key to finding the right ICD-10 code [²].

What is the ICD-10 Code for Alopecia?

The ICD-10 code for alopecia areata is L63. The code L63 falls under “Disorders of skin appendages” from L60-L75.

Alopecia areata is a condition in which your immune system attacks your hair follicles and causes significant loss of hair. This disease mainly affects your head and face [³].

The table below lists the subcategories of the disease under code L63.

Alopecia ICD-10 code: L63

Alopecia ICD code L63 Lookup

Below is a table of the ICD-10 “Alopecia areata” codes under L63 [⁴].

L63: Alopecia areata

Types of Alopecia Coded Under L63

ICD-10 code L63 represents Alopecia areata and its following subtypes:

Alopecia totalis (L63.0): Alopecia totalis represents a complete loss of hair on the scalp. Even though it affects a small number of patients, it's important to recognize and treat it earlier.

Alopecia Universalis (L63.1): This condition results in a complete loss of hair on the scalp and the rest of the body. It also causes patches of hair loss, usually in a round shape.

Ophiasis (L63.2): This type of hair loss is usually in a “wave” shape at the circumference of the head.

There are also other types of alopecia areata, such as:

• Patchy alopecia areata
• Sisaipho
• Marie Antoinette syndrome
• Diffuse alopecia areata

All these conditions cause hair loss in certain places with pale skin in the same spots. Since ophiasis, alopecia universalis, and alopecia totalis have very specific symptoms, they have their own distinct codes. However, other types of alopecia areata may be slightly difficult to diagnose.

For example, “diffuse alopecia areata” comes under “other alopecia areata (L63.8)" because it's hard to diagnose. It has symptoms very similar to other forms of hair loss, such as male or female pattern hair loss. This condition can cause very sudden thinning of the hair on your scalp.

Similarly, “sisaipho" is an uncommon variant of the condition. Since it's rare, it doesn't have a code of its own. In this condition, you may have hair on the sides and back but not on top of the head.

Types of Alopecia Excluded from ICD-10 L63

The code ICD-10 L63 covers all types of alopecia. However, androgenic alopecia is represented by L64 [⁵]. This is because it isn’t an autoimmune disorder like alopecia areata.

It is a common type of baldness due to changes in the hair life cycle. These changes occur when hormones act on follicles with a genetic predisposition to baldness. In short, both conditions have different causes.

Here is a table representing the subtypes of androgenic alopecia.

Conclusion

Finding the right alopecia code is imperative to treat it effectively. Since coding is an efficient way of categorizing diseases, it helps healthcare providers create the right treatment plan for patients.

The more standardized the procedure, the better the recording and documentation of treatment plans. A wrong diagnosis can lead to wrong treatments, so assigning the right ICD-10 code is imperative.

Alopecia areata is not a medically serious condition, but it can affect people psychologically. Baldness on the head or any other part of the body can take a toll on people's confidence and self-esteem, which is why timely intervention is recommended.

It’s important to identify the specific type of this condition to create a customized treatment plan. While androgenic alopecia also results in hair loss, it doesn’t have the same causes as alopecia areata.

Assigning the right code depends on the causes and origins of a condition and its symptoms. Through ICD-10 codes, doctors can significantly reduce inconsistencies in their diagnoses, create detailed documentation and provide the best care to patients with alopecia areata.