Hair color and hair shaft abnormalities (L67)
ICD-10 code section L67 pertains specifically to hair color and hair shaft abnormalities, covering conditions that affect the texture, color, and structural integrity of hair. These codes are used to describe disorders such as trichorrhexis nodosa, variations in hair color like poliosis or premature graying, and other distinct hair shaft disorders.
This section includes L67.0 for trichorrhexis nodosa, which involves fragile hair shafts prone to breaking, known also by terms like clastothrix and trichothiodystrophy. Code L67.1 addresses variations in hair color, including acquired poliosis (localized white hair), heterochromia of hair, and premature canities or early graying. The diverse synonyms help clarify these are not just cosmetic changes but recognized hair color disorders. L67.8 captures a wide range of other hair shaft abnormalities, from brittle or bubble hair to damage caused by chemicals, nutritional deficiencies, or post-inflammatory changes, with terms like hair dystrophy and pseudomonilethrix guiding coders in complex cases. Lastly, L67.9 is used when hair color or shaft abnormalities are present but unspecified, covering general abnormal hair findings or drug-induced changes. Collectively, these codes provide precise options for documenting varied hair conditions in medical records and billing.
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.
Clinical Terms
The following clinical terms provide additional context, helping users better understand the clinical background and common associations for each diagnosis listed in this section. Including related terms alongside ICD-10-CM codes supports coders, billers, and healthcare professionals in improving accuracy, enhancing documentation, and facilitating research or patient education.
Essential Tremor
A relatively common disorder characterized by a fairly specific pattern of tremors which are most prominent in the upper extremities and neck, inducing titubations of the head. The tremor is usually mild, but when severe may be disabling. An autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance may occur in some families (i.e., familial tremor). (Mov Disord 1988;13(1):5-10)
