Exposure to sunlight (X32)
The ICD-10 code X32 and its extensions identify medical encounters related to harmful exposure to sunlight, including initial exposure, follow-up care, and long-term consequences. These codes capture conditions caused by too much sun, helping document and manage sun-induced skin problems accurately.
Exposure to sunlight, coded as X32, encompasses a range of skin reactions and disorders from sun overexposure. The initial encounter code X32.XXXA is used when a patient first seeks care for effects such as solar urticaria, polymorphous light eruption, or acute phototoxic dermatitis. Follow-up visits due to ongoing treatment or monitoring are reported with X32.XXXD. If the patient suffers from lasting damage caused by sunlight; like solar telangiectasia, actinic keratosis, or photoaggravated psoriasis; the code for sequela, X32.XXXS, applies. Including these synonyms helps connect common terms such as “sun-damaged skin” or “solar pruritus” directly to the relevant ICD-10 code for exposure to sunlight, guiding accurate coding in medical records and billing.
External causes of morbidity and mortality (V01–Y99)
Exposure to forces of nature (X30-X39)
X32 Exposure to sunlight
- X32.XXXA Exposure to sunlight, initial encounter
- X32.XXXD Exposure to sunlight, subsequent encounter
- X32.XXXS Exposure to sunlight, sequela
Exposure to sunlight (X32)
Instructional Notations
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.
- man-made radiation tanning bed W89
Type 2 Excludes
A type 2 excludes note represents "Not included here". An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.
7th Character Note
Certain ICD-10-CM categories have applicable 7th characters. The applicable 7th character is required for all codes within the category, or as the notes in the Tabular List instruct. The 7th character must always be the 7th character in the data field. If a code that requires a 7th character is not 6 characters, a placeholder X must be used to fill in the empty characters.
- The appropriate 7th character is to be added to code X32
7th Character
Indicates that a seventh character is to be assigned to codes in a subcategory.
- A - initial encounter
- D - subsequent encounter
- S - sequela
