Disturbances of skin sensation (R20) ICD-10-CM
The R20 code range covers disturbances of skin sensation with 7 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes. 6 of them are billable and valid for claim submission in fiscal year 2027, and the category headers group them but cannot themselves be billed.
Type 1 Excludes
A type 1 excludes note is a pure excludes note. It means "NOT CODED HERE!" An Excludes1 note indicates that the code excluded should never be used at the same time as the code above the Excludes1 note. An Excludes1 is used when two conditions cannot occur together, such as a congenital form versus an acquired form of the same condition.
Codes in the R20 Range 7 codes · 6 billable
Clinical Terms in This Code Range
Definitions from the National Library of Medicine for conditions coded in the R20 range.
Formication
Subjective cutaneous sensations of insects in the absence of stimulation.
Hyperalgesia
An increased sensation of pain or discomfort produced by minimally noxious stimuli due to damage to soft tissue containing NOCICEPTORS or injury to a peripheral nerve.
Hyperesthesia
Increased sensitivity to cutaneous stimulation due to a diminished threshold or an increased response to stimuli.
Hypesthesia
Absent or reduced sensitivity to cutaneous stimulation.
Paresthesia
Subjective cutaneous sensations (e.g., cold, warmth, tingling, pressure, etc.) that are experienced spontaneously in the absence of stimulation.
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.
About the R20 Code Range
These symptoms involve changes in skin sensation, from absent or reduced feeling to altered or heightened feeling.
The subdivisions separate loss of feeling, or anesthesia, in R20.0 from reduced feeling, or hypoesthesia, in R20.1. Altered feeling, or paresthesia, falls under R20.2; heightened sensitivity, or hyperesthesia, falls under R20.3. R20.8 covers other disturbances, while R20.9 covers unspecified disturbances.
Questions About This Page
How many billable codes are in the R20 range?
Of the 7 codes in this range, 6 are billable and valid for claim submission from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Category header codes group them but cannot be reported on claims.
What does the R20 range classify?
The range classifies disturbances of skin sensation. Each code links to its own reference page with billing status, MS-DRG grouping, coding notes, and clinical information.
Related References
Source: CMS FY 2027 ICD-10-CM Tabular List and order file, effective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
