2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R20.8Other disturbances of skin sensation

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R20-R23›R20

ICD-10-CM R20.8
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

R20.8 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for other disturbances of skin sensation. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026). As a symptom code, it should not be used as a principal diagnosis once a related definitive diagnosis has been established. In AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software (CCSR), this diagnosis falls under Skin/Subcutaneous signs and symptoms.

Code Identity

ICD-10-CM Code
R20.8
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Other disturbances of skin sensation
Short Description
Other disturbances of skin sensation
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
R20
Disturbances of skin sensation

Code Classification

ChapterR00–R99Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
SectionR20-R23Symptoms and signs involving the skin and subcutaneous tissue
CategoryR20Disturbances of skin sensation
This CodeR20.8Other disturbances of skin sensation

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • 10g monofilament sensation absent
  • 10g monofilament sensation L foot abnormal
  • 10g monofilament sensation R foot abnormal
  • Absence of 2-point discrimination
  • Absence of deep sensation
  • Absence of sensation on left side of face
  • Absence of sensation on left side of trunk
  • Absence of sensation on right side of face
  • Absence of sensation on right side of trunk
  • Berger's paresthesia
  • Burning sensation
  • Burning sensation of ear
  • Burning sensation of mucous membrane
  • Burning sensation of nose
  • Burning sensation of skin
  • Burning sensation of vagina
  • Burning sensation of vulva
  • Cheiro-oral syndrome
  • Cold extremity
  • Cold feet
  • Cold foot
  • Cold hands
  • Cold sensation absent
  • Cold skin
  • Cryalgesia
  • Cryesthesia
  • Decreased skin temperature
  • Distant referral of tactile sensation
  • Dysesthesia
  • Dysesthesia of face
  • Dysesthesia of scalp
  • Feels hot
  • Finding of light touch
  • Finding of pin prick discrimination
  • Finding of sensation of nose
  • Finding of sensation of wound
  • Finding of touch discrimination
  • Graphesthesia absent
  • Graphesthesia finding
  • Graphesthesia impaired
  • Heat sensation absent
  • Hemihypalgesia
  • Hot-cold discrimination absent
  • Hot-cold discrimination reduced
  • Hutchinson's mask
  • Hypoalgesia
  • Impaired vibration sensation
  • Impaired vibration sensation of foot
  • Impaired vibration sense of left foot
  • Impaired vibration sense of right foot
  • Injection site burning
  • Intolerant of ambient temperature
  • Intolerant of heat
  • Irritating sensation along suture line
  • Loss of body image
  • Loss of protective sensation of foot with deformity
  • Loss of protective sensation of skin
  • Loss of protective sensation of skin of foot
  • Normal pin prick discrimination
  • Organic disorder of body schema
  • Painful and cold lower limb
  • Pin prick sensation of foot-abnormal
  • Pin prick sensation of foot-normal
  • Pin prick sensation of left foot abnormal
  • Pin prick sensation of left foot normal
  • Pin prick sensation of right foot abnormal
  • Psychogenic skin disease
  • Reduced deep sensation
  • Referred itching
  • Right-left disorientation
  • Sensation of sutures pulling
  • Sensitive to touch
  • Skin-ache syndrome
  • Sore skin
  • Synesthesia
  • Tactile discrimination left foot abnormal
  • Tactile discrimination right foot abnormal
  • Temperature sensation reversal
  • Tenderness of skin
  • Thermal anesthesia
  • Thermal hypesthesia
  • Trichodynia
  • Trunk feels cold

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.

    • Absence(of) (organ or part) (complete or partial)
      • cold sense
    • Absence(of) (organ or part) (complete or partial)
      • heat sense
    • Allocheiria, allochiria
    • Burning
      • sensation
    • Change(s) (in) (of)
      • sensory
    • Diminished, diminution
      • sense or sensation (cold) (heat) (tactile) (vibratory)
    • Disturbance(s)
      • sensation (cold) (heat) (localization) (tactile discrimination) (texture) (vibratory) NEC
        • skin
          • specified type NEC
    • Disturbance(s)
      • temperature
        • sense
    • Dysesthesia
    • Hemihypalgesia
    • Hypalgesia
    • Hyperalgesia
    • Hyperpathia
    • Hypersensitive, hypersensitiveness, hypersensitivity
      • pain
    • Increase, increased
      • cold sense
    • Increase, increased
      • heat sense
    • Loss(of)
      • sense of
        • touch
    • Sensation
      • burning (skin)
    • Sensation
      • loss of
    • Sense loss
      • touch
    • Synesthesia
    • Topagnosis

Clinical ClassificationClinical

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

CCSR SYM014
Skin/Subcutaneous signs and symptoms
Default principal diagnosis: inpatient Yes · outpatient Yes

Clinical InformationClinical

  • Synesthesia

    the experience of involuntary sensory cross activation where the presentation of a particular stimulus elicits a secondary sensory-perceptual experience. it most commonly occurs in the association of color with linguistic stimuli such as letters, numbers, words, or music, but can also occur between other senses. although synesthesia can be acquired or transient due to trauma or drug use, there is also a strong genetic component, with a prevalence of about 1 in 2,000 individuals and a female to male ratio of 6:1.

  • Have Burning Sensation of Skin in Treatment Area Question|Do you have a burning sensation of your skin in the treatment area|Have Burning Sensation of Skin in Treatment Area

    a question about whether an individual has or had a burning sensation of the skin in the treatment area.

  • Have Burning Sensations in Anal Area Question|Have Burning Sensations in Anal Area|Have Perianal Burning|I have burning sensations in the anal area

    a question about whether an individual has or had burning sensations in the anal area.

  • Burning Sensation

    a sensation of stinging or heat, not necessarily accompanied by redness or physical signs of irritation.

  • Have Burning Sensation of Skin in Treatment Area|Do you have a burning sensation of your skin in the treatment area

    a question about whether an individual has or had a burning sensation of the skin in the treatment area.

  • Have Burning Sensations in Anal Area|Have Perianal Burning|I have burning sensations in the anal area

    a question about whether an individual has or had burning sensations in the anal area.

  • Skin Burning Sensation

    a sensation of dermal stinging or heat, not necessarily accompanied by redness or physical signs of skin irritation.

Patient EducationClinical

Peripheral Nerve Disorders

Nerves are like wires that carry messages back and forth between your brain and your body. Your peripheral nerves branch off from your brain and spinal cord and connect to all parts of your body, including your muscles and organs.

The full article covers:

  • What are peripheral nerves?
  • What are peripheral nerve disorders?
  • What causes peripheral nerve disorders?
  • What are the symptoms of peripheral nerve disorders?
  • How are peripheral nerve disorders diagnosed?
  • What are the treatments for peripheral nerve disorders?
  • Can peripheral nerve disorders be prevented?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert R20.8 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
782.0 Skin sensation disturb
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 R20.8Overview

Is R20.8 (Disturbances of skin sensation) a billable code?

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

Can R20.8 be a principal diagnosis?

Use it with care. This is a symptom code, so once a definitive diagnosis explaining the other disturbances of skin sensation is established, that condition takes the principal position instead.

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of R20.8?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, other disturbances of skin sensation converts to ICD-9-CM 782.0 (skin sensation disturb). 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.