2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code R23.1Pallor

ICD-10-CM Codes›R00–R99›R20-R23›R23

ICD-10-CM R23.1
CMSSource: CMS FY 2026 ICD-10-CM dataset · Effective Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

R23.1 is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for pallor. It is valid on HIPAA claims for fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026) and groups to MS-DRG 947 through 948. 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
R23.1
Billable Status
Yes — Valid for Submission
Code Describes
Pallor
Short Description
Pallor
Same as the full description in the CMS dataset.
Parent Code
R23
Other skin changes

Code Classification

ChapterR00–R99Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified
SectionR20-R23Symptoms and signs involving the skin and subcutaneous tissue
CategoryR23Other skin changes
This CodeR23.1Pallor

Approximate SynonymsGuidance

Alternate terms and clinical phrases that map to this code.

  • Blanching of skin
  • Blanching of skin of lower leg on elevation
  • Clammy skin
  • Cocaine-induced acrocyanosis and livedo reticularis
  • Cold and clammy skin
  • Cold skin
  • Complexion finding
  • Congenital livedo reticularis
  • Decreased skin temperature
  • Facial dysmorphism, immunodeficiency, livedo, short stature syndrome
  • Finding of color of limb
  • Idiopathic livedo reticularis
  • Idiopathic livedo reticularis with summer ulceration
  • Idiopathic livedo reticularis with systemic involvement
  • Idiopathic livedo reticularis with winter ulceration
  • Livedo
  • Livedo reticularis
  • Livedo reticularis without ulceration
  • Lividity
  • Moist skin
  • Pale complexion
  • Pale discoloration of entire skin of body
  • Pale face
  • Skin lesion in drug addict
  • Sneddon syndrome
  • White extremities

Tabular List NotesGuidance

Coding notes and annotation back-references applicable to this code.

Inclusion Terms

  • Clammy skin

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.

    • Asphyxia, asphyxiation(by)
      • reticularis
    • Change(s) (in) (of)
      • skin
        • pallor
    • Clammy skin
    • Livedo(annularis) (racemosa) (reticularis)
    • Pallor
    • Skin
      • clammy

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

  • Pallor

    a clinical manifestation consisting of an unnatural paleness of the skin.

  • Livedo Reticularis

    a condition characterized by a reticular or fishnet pattern on the skin of lower extremities and other parts of the body. this red and blue pattern is due to deoxygenated blood in unstable dermal blood vessels. the condition is intensified by cold exposure and relieved by rewarming.

  • Livedoid Vasculopathy

    a rare cutaneous thrombotic disease due to occlusion of dermal vessels. it is characterized by purpuric maculae and ulcerations especially during summer which form scars called atrophie blanche. it is more associated with other syndromes (e.g., protein c deficiency; hyperhomocysteinemia). livedo reticularis with systemic involvement and stroke is sneddon syndrome.

  • Sneddon Syndrome

    a systemic non-inflammatory arteriopathy primarily of middle-aged females characterized by the association of livedo reticularis, multiple thrombotic cerebral infarction; coronary disease, and hypertension. elevation of antiphospholipid antibody titers (see also antiphospholipid syndrome), cardiac valvulopathy, ischemic attack, transient; seizures; dementia; and chronic ischemia of the extremities may also occur. pathologic examination of affected arteries reveals non-inflammatory adventitial fibrosis, thrombosis, and changes in the media (from jablonski, dictionary of syndromes & eponymic diseases, 2d ed; adams et al., principles of neurology, 6th ed, p861; arch neurol 1997 jan;54(1):53-60). mutations in the cecr1 gene (ada2 protein, human) are associated with sneddon syndrome.

  • Livedo Reticularis

    a recurrent purple discoloration of the skin that does not blanche and is found in a lacy, network pattern, most often in the lower extremities. it may be aggravated by exposure to cold and is classified as idiopathic or secondary. secondary livedo reticularis may be a cutaneous manifestation of immune system disorders (e.g., lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, cryoglobulinemia, lymphoma, etc), and hematologic disorders (polycythemia vera).

Patient EducationClinical

Skin Conditions

Your skin is your body's largest organ. It covers the entire outside of your body. There are many ways that your skin protects your body and helps keep you healthy. For example, it:

The full article covers:

  • What does your skin do?
  • What problems and conditions can affect your skin?
  • How can I keep my skin healthy?

Read the full article at MedlinePlus

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

Convert R23.1 to ICD-9-CMHistory

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

ICD-9-CM
782.61 Pallor
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 R23.1Overview

Is R23.1 (Other skin changes) a billable code?

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

What MS-DRG does R23.1 group to?

When pallor is the principal diagnosis on an inpatient stay, it groups to MS-DRG 947, 948, with relative weights from 0.8005 to 1.2694 depending on complications. Higher weights mean higher Medicare reimbursement.

Can R23.1 be a principal diagnosis?

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

What is the ICD-9 equivalent of R23.1?

Under the General Equivalence Mappings, pallor converts to ICD-9-CM 782.61 (pallor). 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.