What ICD-10 codes are used for hair loss?
There's a wide array of hair loss ICD codes you can use. A few specifically have hair loss in their names, and there are codes specific to Alopecia. For this short guide, we will cover a bit of both:
L64.9: Androgenic alopecia, unspecified
This ICD code is meant for androgenic alopecia or male pattern alopecia. This code can be specifically used for males and manifests in a receding hairline and crown thinning, creating an "M" shape on the scalp.
L65.9: Nonscarring hair loss, unspecified
This ICD-10 code is meant to be used on a patient confirmed to have nonscarring hair loss. In the context of this ICD-10 code, the site of the hair loss isn't specified. What is meant by nonscarring hair loss is that the hair follicles are preserved, which means that hair loss can be reversed and regrowth is still possible.
L65.8: Other specified nonscarring hair loss
This ICD-10 code is meant to be used on a patient confirmed to have nonscarring hair loss. This is only meant to be used if the person has nonscarring hair loss not covered by other ICD-10 codes.
L63.9: Alopecia areata, unspecified
This ICD-10 code is meant for a patient confirmed to have Alopecia Areata, the autoimmune disorder we mentioned earlier. The unspecified label points to the specific nature of the disorder to be unknown. All that is known is that the patient has the disorder.
L63.0: Alopecia (capitis) totalis
This ICD-10 code is meant to be used for a patient confirmed to have Alopecia Totalis. This type of Alopecia means that the person who has it is completely bald because it is characterized by the total loss of hair on the scalp.
L63.1: Alopecia universalis
This ICD-10 code is meant to be used for a patient confirmed to have Alopecia Universalis. This type of Alopecia means that the person who has it is completely hairless. Yes, even your eyebrows, body hair, pubic hair, all the hair.
L66.9: Cicatricial alopecia, unspecified
This ICD-10 code is meant to be used for a patient confirmed to have Cicatricial Alopecia [scarring hair loss]. This is a scarring type of Alopecia, meaning the hair follicles are destroyed. This leads to scarring and permanent hair loss.