In simple words: Sunburn is a skin injury caused by too much time in the sun.Your skin gets red, sore, and might even blister.

Sunburn, coded as L55 in the ICD-10-CM system, refers to an injury to the skin resulting from excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation in sunlight.This injury manifests as erythema (redness), tenderness, and in severe cases, blistering.The severity can range from first-degree (mild redness) to third-degree (deep, extensive blistering and potential tissue damage).L55 can be further specified with additional codes (L55.0-L55.9) to indicate the degree of burn.

Example 1: A patient presents to a clinic with erythema and mild tenderness on their shoulders and back after a day at the beach.The physician diagnoses first-degree sunburn (L55.0)., A hiker experiences severe blistering and pain on their face and arms after prolonged sun exposure in the mountains. The physician diagnoses second-degree sunburn (L55.1) and initiates treatment to prevent infection., A child is brought to the emergency department with extensive blistering, deep tissue damage, and significant pain after falling asleep outdoors. The physician diagnoses third-degree sunburn (L55.2) requiring specialized wound care and pain management.

Patient history detailing sun exposure, physical examination documenting the extent and severity of sunburn (erythema, blistering, pain), and any treatment provided (e.g., topical creams, pain medication).

** Further specifications for sunburn, such as location and extent of the burn, can be added to enhance the clinical description.Appropriate documentation is essential to ensure accurate coding and billing.