2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code L81.9Disorder of pigmentation, unspecified

ICD-10-CM Codes›L00–L99›L80-L99›L81

ICD-10-CM L81.9
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

L81.9 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for disorder of pigmentation, unspecified. 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
L81.9
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Disorder of pigmentation, unspecified
Short Description
Disorder of pigmentation, unspecified
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 CodeL81.9Disorder of pigmentation, unspecified

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Application site pigmentation changes
  • Atypical pigmented lesion
  • Benign pigmented skin lesion
  • Crust on skin
  • Crusting of pigmented skin lesion
  • Disorder of pigmentation
  • Disorder of pigmentation of skin following cosmetic surgery
  • Disorder of skin color
  • Disorder of skin pigmentation
  • Drug pigmentation
  • Drug-induced oral condition
  • Drug-induced oral pigmentation
  • Drug-induced pigmentation
  • Exogenous pigmentation of oral mucosa
  • Extrasystoles, short stature, hyperpigmentation, microcephaly syndrome
  • Finding of color of female perineum
  • Genetic disorder of skin pigmentation
  • Hyperpigmentation of female perineum
  • Hyperpigmentation of skin
  • Injection site pigmentation change
  • Itching of pigmented skin lesion
  • Non-melanin pigmentation caused by exogenous substance
  • Occupationally-acquired disorder of skin pigmentation
  • Oozing of pigmented skin lesion
  • Pattern of pigmentation
  • Physiological pigmentation
  • Physiological pigmentation of mucous membranes
  • Pigmentation caused by bismuth
  • Pigmentation defects, palmoplantar keratoderma, skin carcinoma syndrome
  • Pigmentation disorder of lip
  • Pigmentation of skin caused by artificial ultraviolet light
  • Pigmentation of skin or mucosa
  • Pigmented skin lesion
  • Pigmented skin lesion of lower limb
  • Pigmented skin lesion of uncertain nature
  • Pigmented skin lesion of uncertain nature of head
  • Pigmented skin lesion of uncertain nature of lower extremity
  • Pigmented skin lesion of uncertain nature of neck
  • Pigmented skin lesion of uncertain nature of trunk
  • Pigmented skin lesion of uncertain nature of upper limb
  • Skin discharge
  • Skin pigmentation
  • Subcutaneous component of pigmented skin lesion
  • Ultraviolet-induced skin pigmentation - tanning

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.

    • Anomaly, anomalous(congenital) (unspecified type)
      • pigmentation
    • Dermatosis
      • pigmentary
    • Disorder(of)
      • pigmentation
    • Dyschromia(skin)
    • Lesion(s) (nontraumatic)
      • pigment, pigmented (skin)
    • Pigmentation(abnormal) (anomaly)

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

  • Skin Pigmentation

    coloration of the skin.

  • Skin Pigmentation

    the color of the skin as determined by the amount of melanin present.

  • Skin Pigmentation Disorder|Pigmentation Disorders

    a disorder of the skin characterized by loss or reduction of the skin color. it is caused by loss of melanocytes or abnormalities in melanin production.

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 L81.9 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
709.00 Dyschromia, unspecified
Exact Match The mapping is direct, with no qualifiers.

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 L81.9Overview

Is L81.9 (Other disorders of pigmentation) a billable code?

Yes. This is a billable ICD-10-CM code, specific enough to report disorder of pigmentation, unspecified on HIPAA-covered claims from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.

What MS-DRG does L81.9 group to?

When disorder of pigmentation, unspecified 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 L81.9?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, disorder of pigmentation, unspecified converts to ICD-9-CM 709.00 (dyschromia, unspecified). The mapping is a direct match.

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.