Alopecia areata (L63)

ICD-10 code L63 is used to classify alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that causes hair loss in well-defined patches. This code section includes various specific types such as alopecia totalis, universalis, and ophiasis.

The ICD-10 code for alopecia totalis (L63.0) accounts for complete scalp hair loss, also referred to in medical records as “alopecia totalis” or linked to antibody deficiencies. For cases involving total hair loss of the entire body, L63.1 captures alopecia universalis. The subtype L63.2 represents ophiasis, a distinct pattern of hair loss along the scalp edges. The code L63.8 covers “other alopecia areata,” which may include localized hair loss of eyebrows, eyelashes, beard, or limbs, with synonyms like “circumscribed alopecia areata” often found in clinical notes. When the exact form is not specified, L63.9 is appropriate for general alopecia areata cases, sometimes recorded with nail involvement described as “pitting of nails due to alopecia areata.” Medical coders use this set of codes to accurately identify and document the specific type and extent of alopecia areata, facilitating appropriate diagnosis and treatment tracking.