2025 ICD-10-CM code L65.9
(Active) Effective Date: N/A Disorders of skin appendages - Nonscarring hair loss Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L00-L99) Feed
Nonscarring hair loss, unspecified. Alopecia NOS.
Medical necessity for evaluation and treatment of hair loss is established when it impacts the patient's physical or psychological well-being.Documentation should link the hair loss to symptoms like pain, discomfort, or emotional distress.If further investigation is required to identify the cause, the uncertainty and potential health risks associated with undiagnosed hair loss can justify medical necessity.
Diagnosis and management of hair loss falls under dermatology.Clinicians are responsible for identifying the underlying cause, which may necessitate consultation with other specialists (e.g., endocrinology, oncology) if systemic diseases are suspected. Treatment varies according to etiology and may involve medication, topical therapies, or hair restoration procedures.
In simple words: This code refers to hair loss that doesn't result in scarring. It's used when the specific reason for the hair loss isn't known.Hair loss can happen in patches or all over, and there are many reasons why someone might lose hair, like genetics, medical treatments, or illness.Losing some hair every day is normal, but this code is used for more noticeable hair loss.
A disorder characterized by a decrease in density of hair compared to normal for a given individual at a given age and body location.This condition can manifest as bald spots or diffuse thinning across the scalp or entire body.Possible causes include androgenetic factors, chemotherapy, compulsive hair pulling (trichotillomania), autoimmune disorders, or congenital conditions.It is important to note that daily hair shedding (up to 100 hairs) is normal and typically does not fall under this code.
Example 1: A 45-year-old male presents with gradual hair thinning on the crown and receding hairline. No other symptoms are reported. After ruling out other medical conditions, male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia) is diagnosed, and L65.9 is used until a more specific code is determined., A 28-year-old female experiences significant hair shedding after childbirth.A diagnosis of postpartum telogen effluvium (L65.0) is initially made; however, if the hair loss persists beyond six months and doesn’t fit the typical telogen effluvium pattern, it could be coded as L65.9 to reflect nonscarring hair loss of unspecified origin., A patient undergoing chemotherapy experiences diffuse hair loss as a side effect of the treatment.L65.9 can be applied as a secondary diagnosis to specify the hair loss if the documentation doesn't indicate a specific type of chemotherapy-induced alopecia.
Thorough documentation should include the pattern and distribution of hair loss (localized, diffuse, patchy), onset and duration, associated symptoms (e.g., itching, scaling), family history, current medications, relevant medical history (e.g., thyroid disease, autoimmune disorders), and results of any diagnostic tests performed (e.g., scalp biopsy, blood tests).
- Specialties:Dermatology
- Place of Service:Office, Outpatient Hospital, Telehealth Provided in Patient’s Home, Telehealth Provided Other than in Patient’s Home