Vitiligo ICD 10 Code

Refresher: What are ICD-10 codes?

ICD-10 stands for the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision. It is a system that healthcare providers use to classify diseases, symptoms, procedures, etc. As compared to its predecessor, ICD-9, ICD-10 provides a greater level of detail for diagnostic specificity [1]. For example, if ICD-9 classifies injuries by type, ICD-10 classifies injuries by site and then by type.

ICD-10 includes over 68,000 codes, whereas ICD-9 only has about 13,000 codes. These codes represent the following information:

• Diseases and conditions
• Signs and symptoms
• Related health problems
• External causes of diseases and injuries
• Social circumstances
• Abnormal findings, etc.

These codes are further divided into the following categories:

• ICD-10-CM (Clinical Modification)
• ICD-10-PCS (Procedure Coding System)

ICD-10-CM is used for diagnosis, whereas ICD-10-PCS is used in in-patient settings for coding procedures. All in all, these codes have enabled healthcare providers and other parties to enjoy the following benefits [2]:

• Track public health conditions
• Make the right clinical decisions
• Get access to accurate data for research
• Identify fraud
• Measure the care and the outcomes of care provided to patients
• Design a payment system
• Process claims, etc.

Finding the right ICD-10 code depends on the type and location of a disease/condition.

What is the ICD-10 Code for vitiligo?

The ICD-10 code for vitiligo is L80. The code L80 falls under “Other disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue” from L80-L99 [3].

Vitiligo is a condition that leads to loss of pigmentation or color in your skin. As a result, your skin either turns white or appears lighter than its natural tone. This condition may affect your skin in patches known as macules. You may also notice that the area affected by vitiligo will have hair turning silver or white. We all have skin cells or melanocytes that produce melanin and give our skin its color. But, in this condition, the body’s immune system destroys these skin cells, causing you to have white or discolored patches on your skin [4].

The table below lists the subcategories of “Other disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue” from L80-L99.

Vitiligo ICD-10 code: L80

Vitiligo ICD code L80 Lookup

There are no subcategories of vitiligo under L80. Hence, below is a table of the ICD-10 “Other disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue” codes with vitiligo under L80.

L80-L99: Other disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue

Types of Vitiligo Under L80

ICD-10 code L80 represents vitiligo, but there are no subcategories represented by additional codes under it. Generally, vitiligo has the following types:

Segmental vitiligo: People with this type can undergo rapid loss of color on a single side of the body. However, it often stabilizes after 6 to 12 months. The color loss does not progress further, and people don't develop any new spots or patches. This type of vitiligo is also known as "unilateral vitiligo."

Non-segmental vitiligo: This type of vitiligo spreads gradually and appears as patches on both sides of your body.

Vitiligo can appear in different forms. It may be "localized," which means that you only have a few spots in a few areas of your body. It may be "generalized" if the color loss is scattered and on different parts of the body. In rare cases, it may be "universal," which means you lose most of your skin color.

Types of Vitiligo Excluded from ICD-10 L80

The code ICD-10 L80 covers the general form of vitiligo. However, there are other types of this condition excluded from L80.

They include the following:

Vitiligo of eyelids (H02.73): This one comes specifically under “ other disorders of eyelid," represented by H02 [5].

Vitiligo of the vulva (N90.89): This one comes specifically under "Other specified noninflammatory disorders of vulva and perineum," represented by N90 [6].

The ICD-10 code L80 represents a general form of vitiligo. However, if it is on the more hidden parts of your body, such as the eyelids or vulva, it won't come under the general category since it represents another disease/condition.

For example, eyelid disorders are vast. Hence, they have a separate code with various subcategories. Similarly, disorders of the vulva are also vast, so they have a separate code with different subcategories.

Conclusion

Treating vitiligo requires reaching the right diagnostic conclusion. This means distinguishing general vitiligo from vitiligo of eyelids and vulva is extremely important.

By using specific codes, healthcare providers can create specific treatment plans for patients, enhancing their quality of care.

While there is no cure for vitiligo at the moment, there are treatments to restore lost skin color. But, this repigmentation can also fade over time. In most cases, treatment works slow and can be stubborn.

This is why observing caution while making a treatment plan is imperative to not trigger further discoloration. Vitiligo is not a life-threatening condition, but it can take a toll on your self-esteem and confidence.

Nonetheless, determining the right code is the only way to improve a patient’s quality of life. Assigning the right code depends on the causes and origins of a condition and its symptoms.

ICD-10 codes for vitiligo can help doctors reach the right diagnostic conclusion, create detailed documentation and provide the best care to patients who need it.