2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code L81.6Other disorders of diminished melanin formation

ICD-10-CM Codes›L00–L99›L80-L99›L81

ICD-10-CM L81.6
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

L81.6 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other disorders of diminished melanin formation. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 606 through 607. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Other specified and unspecified skin disorders.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
L81.6
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Other disorders of diminished melanin formation
Short Description
Other disorders of diminished melanin formation
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
L81
Other disorders of pigmentation

Code Classification

ChapterL00–L99Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue
SectionL80-L99Other disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue
CategoryL81Other disorders of pigmentation
This CodeL81.6Other disorders of diminished melanin formation

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Achromia of skin
  • Acquired hypomelanosis of uncertain etiology
  • Acquired hypomelanotic disorder
  • Acquired poikiloderma
  • Alezzandrini syndrome
  • Chemically-induced hypomelanosis
  • Circumscribed hypomelanosis
  • Complication due to and following cosmetic surgery
  • Complication of cryotherapy procedure
  • Complication of laser surgery
  • Disorder of pigmentation of skin following cosmetic surgery
  • Disorder of skin due to radiotherapy
  • Drug-induced hypomelanosis
  • Hereditary acrokeratotic poikiloderma of Weary
  • Hereditary fibrosing poikiloderma, tendon contractures, myopathy, pulmonary fibrosis syndrome
  • Hereditary sclerosing poikiloderma
  • Hypomelanosis due to cryotherapy
  • Hypomelanosis due to scarring
  • Hypomelanosis of skin as a complication of cosmetic procedure
  • Hypomelanosis surrounding malignant melanoma
  • Hypomelanosis surrounding melanocytic neoplasm
  • Hypomelanotic mycosis fungoides
  • Hypomelanotic sarcoidosis
  • Laser-induced dyspigmentation
  • Laser-induced hypopigmentation
  • Localized hereditary amyloidosis
  • Macule of skin
  • Neoplastic sequelae of disorders
  • Onchocercal depigmentation
  • Onchodermatitis
  • Poikiloderma
  • Poikiloderma caused by cold injury
  • Poikiloderma caused by ionizing radiation
  • Poikiloderma caused by photodynamic agent
  • Poikiloderma due to and following radiotherapy
  • Poikiloderma due to connective tissue disease
  • Poikiloderma due to heat of infrared radiation therapy
  • Poikiloderma due to lichen planus
  • Poikiloderma due to lupus erythematosus
  • Poikiloderma due to scleroderma
  • Poikiloderma with neutropenia
  • Poikilodermal cutaneous amyloid
  • Poikilodermatous mycosis fungoides
  • Post-infective hypomelanosis
  • Post-inflammatory hypopigmentation
  • Postinflammatory skin pigmentation change
  • Progressive macular hypomelanosis
  • Symmetrical progressive leucopathy
  • Tendon contracture

Index to Diseases and InjuriesGuidance

Alphabetical index entries that point to this code.

External Cause of Injuries IndexGuidance

References for this code in the External Cause of Injuries Index.

    • Disorder(of)
      • pigmentation
        • diminished melanin formation
    • Pigmentation(abnormal) (anomaly)
      • diminished melanin formation NEC
    • Poikiloderma

Clinical ClassificationClinical

AHRQ’s CCSR groups this code into broader clinical categories.

CCSR SKN007
Other specified and unspecified skin disorders
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Parapsoriasis Lichenoides|Parapsoriasis Variegata|Poikiloderma Atrophicans Vasculare|Poikilodermic Parapsoriasis|Retiform Parapsoriasis

    a rare condition that stimulated chronic radiodermatitis. it is considered a variant of mycosis fungoides.

  • Poikiloderma

    a localized skin condition commonly associated with sun exposure that is characterized by variegated discoloration, telangiectasia and atrophy.

  • Poikiloderma with Neutropenia|PN

    an autosomal recessive condition caused by mutation(s) in the usb1 gene, encoding u6 snrna phosphodiesterase. it is characterized by poikiloderma and chronic noncyclic neutropenia.

  • U6 snRNA Phosphodiesterase|EC:3.1.4.-|Mutated In Poikiloderma with Neutropenia Protein 1|U6 Small Nuclear RNA Biogenesis Phosphodiesterase 1|U6 snRNA Biogenesis Phosphodiesterase 1|UPF0406 Protein C16orf57|USB1|hUsb1

    u6 snrna phosphodiesterase (265 aa, ~30 kda) is encoded by the human usb1 gene. this protein is involved in trimming the poly(u) tract from the pre-u6 snrna molecule.

  • USB1 wt Allele|C16orf57|Chromosome 16 Open Reading Frame 57 Gene|FLJ13154|HVSL Motif Containing 1 Gene|HVSL1|Mpn1|PN|Poikiloderma with Neutropenia Gene|Poikiloderma with Neutropenia Protein 1 Gene|Putative U6 snRNA Phosphodiesterase Gene|U Six Biogenesis 1 Gene|U6 snRNA Biogenesis 1 Gene|U6 snRNA Biogenesis Phosphodiesterase 1 wt Allele|hUsb1

    human usb1 wild-type allele is located in the vicinity of 16q21 and is approximately 22 kb in length. this allele, which encodes u6 snrna phosphodiesterase protein, plays a role in the maturation of u6 snrna. mutations in the gene are associated with poikiloderma with neutropenia.

  • Poikilodermatous Plaque-Like Hemangioma

    a skin hemangioma characterized by the proliferation of small blood vessels in the superficial dermis and loss or reduction of elastic fibers. it manifests with erythematous or violet color plaques described as poikilodermatous. almost all lesions arise in the lower extremities in elderly males.

  • U6 snRNA Phosphodiesterase|EC 3.1.4.-|Mutated In Poikiloderma with Neutropenia Protein 1|U6 Small Nuclear RNA Biogenesis Phosphodiesterase 1|U6 snRNA Biogenesis Phosphodiesterase 1|UPF0406 Protein C16orf57|USB1|hUsb1

    u6 snrna phosphodiesterase (265 aa, ~30 kda) is encoded by the human usb1 gene. this protein is involved in trimming the poly(u) tract from the pre-u6 snrna molecule.

Patient EducationClinical

Skin Pigmentation Disorders

Pigmentation means coloring. Skin pigmentation disorders affect the color of your skin. Your skin gets its color from a pigment called melanin. Special cells in the skin make melanin. When these cells become damaged or unhealthy, it affects melanin production. Some pigmentation disorders affect just patches of skin.

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

Courtesy of MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Convert L81.6 to ICD-9-CMHistory

The closest ICD-9-CM equivalents under the General Equivalence Mappings.

ICD-9-CM
709.09 Other dyschromia
Approximate The match is approximate rather than exact.

Code HistoryHistory

FY 2016AddedAdded to the ICD-10-CM code setEffective October 1, 2015, the first year of ICD-10-CM.
FY 2017–2025No changes
FY 2026CurrentCurrent code set, no changesEffective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

Questions About L81.6Overview

Is L81.6 (Other disorders of pigmentation) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report other disorders of diminished melanin formation on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does L81.6 group to?

When other disorders of diminished melanin formation is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 606, 607, with relative weights from 0.9064 to 1.5132 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of L81.6?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, other disorders of diminished melanin formation converts to ICD-9-CM 709.09 (other dyschromia). The mapping is approximate, so confirm the match fits the documentation.

Footnotes

[1] Not chronic - A diagnosis code that does not fit the criteria for chronic condition (duration, ongoing medical treatment, and limitations) is considered not chronic. Some codes designated as not chronic are acute conditions. Other diagnosis codes that indicate a possible chronic condition, but for which the duration of the illness is not specified in the code description (i.e., we do not know the condition has lasted 12 months or longer) also are considered not chronic.