L56.9 - Acute skin change due to ultraviolet radiation, unspecified

Version 2023
ICD-10:L56.9
Short Description:Acute skin change due to ultraviolet radiation, unspecified
Long Description:Acute skin change due to ultraviolet radiation, unspecified
Status: Valid for Submission
Version:ICD-10-CM 2023
Code Classification:
  • Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L00–L99)
    • Radiation-related disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L55-L59)
      • Other acute skin changes due to ultraviolet radiation (L56)

L56.9 is a billable ICD-10 code used to specify a medical diagnosis of acute skin change due to ultraviolet radiation, unspecified. The code is valid during the fiscal year 2023 from October 01, 2022 through September 30, 2023 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions.

Unspecified diagnosis codes like L56.9 are acceptable when clinical information is unknown or not available about a particular condition. Although a more specific code is preferable, unspecified codes should be used when such codes most accurately reflect what is known about a patient's condition. Specific diagnosis codes should not be used if not supported by the patient's medical record.

Approximate Synonyms

The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:

Index to Diseases and Injuries References

The Index to Diseases and Injuries is an alphabetical listing of medical terms, with each term mapped to one or more ICD-10 code(s). The following references for this diagnosis code are found in the injuries and diseases index:

Convert to ICD-9 Code

Source ICD-10 CodeTarget ICD-9 Code
L56.9692.79 - Oth dermatitis solar rad
Approximate Flag - The approximate mapping means there is not an exact match between the ICD-10 and ICD-9 codes and the mapped code is not a precise representation of the original code.

Patient Education


Sun Exposure

Ultraviolet (UV) rays are an invisible form of radiation. They can pass through your skin and damage your skin cells. Sunburns are a sign of skin damage. Suntans aren't healthy, either. They appear after the sun's rays have already killed some cells and damaged others. UV rays can cause skin damage during any season or at any temperature. They can also cause eye problems, wrinkles, skin spots, and skin cancer.

To protect yourself :

Check your skin regularly for changes in the size, shape, color, or feel of birthmarks, moles, and spots. Such changes are a sign of skin cancer.

Food and Drug Administration


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History