Radiation-related disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (L55-L59)

ICD-10 codes L55 through L59 cover a range of skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders caused by radiation, mainly ultraviolet (UV) radiation and other nonionizing or ionizing sources. These codes classify conditions from various degrees of sunburn to chronic skin changes and radiodermatitis.

This range includes specific codes for sunburn (L55), distinguishing first- through third-degree burns and unspecified types. It also addresses acute skin reactions to UV radiation under L56, such as drug-related phototoxic and photoallergic responses, photocontact dermatitis (also known as berloque dermatitis), solar urticaria, and polymorphous light eruption; terms often used interchangeably depending on the underlying cause. Chronic exposure effects like actinic keratosis and skin changes from prolonged nonionizing radiation are classified under L57, including conditions like poikiloderma of Civatte and cutis rhomboidalis nuchae. The codes L58 and L59 cover radiodermatitis and other radiation-related skin disorders such as erythema ab igne (heat-induced dermatosis) and disorders from ionizing radiation. Using these specific codes helps accurately capture diverse skin conditions induced by different types and durations of radiation exposure.