Diagnosis coding updates for 2026
Derm Coding Consult
By Faith C. M. McNicholas, RHIT, CPC, CPCD, PCS, CDC, Senior Manager, Coding and Reimbursement, November 1, 2025
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) have announced the 2026 updates to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM). These updates took effect on Oct. 1, 2025, and will apply to patient encounters through Sept. 30, 2026. The 2026 update includes 487 new diagnosis codes, 38 revised codes, and 28 deletions.
This year’s changes aim to improve the granularity and clinical specificity of the code set, address emerging health concerns, support accurate documentation and reporting, and reflect advances in medical knowledge and terminology.
As part of the updates, several dermatology-relevant code categories will expand, including those for lipodystrophy, cutaneous abscesses, furuncles and carbuncles, cellulitis, and lymphangitis, among others.
In response to a request from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to create ICD-10-CM codes specific to xylazine and its health consequences, the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA), the Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction Division of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, and the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society (CWOCN) collaborated to develop new codes for xylazine’s distinct manifestations: xylazine-associated wounds. As a result, the non-pressure chronic ulcer code category has been enhanced.
The table below outlines the CDC/NCHS-approved dermatology-related ICD-10-CM revisions and additions. These updates must be incorporated into your practice management and coding systems.
ICD-10-CM code | Code descriptor | Revisions/updates |
|---|---|---|
B88 |
Other |
B88.0 Other acariasis Deleted:
New codes: B88.01
B88.09 Other acariasis
|
E88 |
Lipodystrophy, not elsewhere classified |
Deleted: Lipodystrophy NOS New codes: E88.10 Lipodystrophy, unspecified
E88.11 Partial lipodystrophy
E88.12 Generalized lipodystrophy
E88.13 Localized lipodystrophy
E88.14 HIV-associated lipodystrophy E88.19 Other lipodystrophy, not elsewhere classified |
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ICD-10-CM code | Code descriptor | Revisions/updates |
|---|---|---|
H01.8 |
Other specified inflammations of eyelid |
New codes: H01.81 Other specified inflammation of right upper eyelidH01.82 Other specified inflammation of right lower eyelid H01.83 Other specified inflammation of right eye, unspecified eyelid H01.84 Other specified inflammation of left upper eyelid H01.85 Other specified inflammation of left lower eyelid H01.86 Other specified inflammation of left eye, unspecified eyelid H01.89 Other specified inflammation of unspecified eye, unspecified eyelid H01.8A Other specified inflammation of right eye, upper and lower eyelids H01.8B Other specified inflammation of left eye, upper and lower eyelids |
L02.212 |
Cutaneous abscess of back [any part, except buttock] |
Revised and new codes: L02.212 Cutaneous abscess of back [any part, except buttock and flank]New code: L02.217 Cutaneous abscess of flank Revised code: L02.222 Furuncle of back [any part, except buttock and flank] New codes: L02.227 Furuncle of flank L03.31A Cellulitis of flank L03.32A Acute lymphangitis of flank
|
| L98.4xx | Non-pressure chronic ulcer of skin, not elsewhere classified | New codes: L98.43 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of abdomen L98.431 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of abdomen limited to breakdown of skin L98.432 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of abdomen with fat layer exposed L98.438 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of abdomen with other specified severity L98.439 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of abdomen with unspecified severity L98.44 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of chest L98.441 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of chest limited to breakdown of skin L98.448 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of chest with other specified severity L98.449 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of chest with unspecified severity L98.45 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of neck L98.451 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of neck limited to breakdown of skin L98.458 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of neck with other specified severity L98.459 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of neck with unspecified severity L98.46 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of face L98.461 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of face limited to breakdown of skin L98.468 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of face with other specified severity L98.469 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of face with unspecified severity L98.47 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of groin L98.471 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of groin limited to breakdown of skin L98.478 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of groin with other specified severity L98.479 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of groin with unspecified severity L98.A Non-pressure chronic ulcer of upper limb, not elsewhere classified Chronic ulcer of upper limb NOS Non-healing ulcer of upper limb Ulcer of upper limb NEC L98.A1 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of upper arm Non-pressure chronic ulcer of axilla L98.A11 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right upper arm L98.A111 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right upper arm limited to breakdown of skin |
ICD-10-CM code | Code descriptor | Revisions/updates |
|---|---|---|
L98.4xx |
Non-pressure chronic ulcer |
L98.A118 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right upper arm with other specified severity L98.A119 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right upper arm with unspecified severityL98.A12 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left upper arm L98.A121 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left upper arm limited to breakdown of skin L98.A128 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left upper arm with other specified severity L98.A129 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left upper arm with unspecified severity L98.A19 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified upper arm L98.A191 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified upper arm limited to breakdown of skin L98.A198 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified upper arm with other specified severity L98.A199 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified upper arm with unspecified severity L98.A2 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of forearm L98.A21 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right forearm L98.A211 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right forearm limited to breakdown of skin L98.A218 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right forearm with other specified severity L98.A219 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right forearm with unspecified severity L98.A22 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left forearm L98.A221 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left forearm limited to breakdown of skin L98.A228 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left forearm with other specified severity L98.A229 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left forearm with unspecified severity L98.A29 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm L98.A291 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm limited to breakdown of skin L98.A298 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm with other specified severity L98.A299 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified forearm with unspecified severity L98.A3 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of hand L98.A31 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right hand L98.A311 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right hand limited to breakdown of skin L98.A318 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right hand with other specified severity L98.A319 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of right hand with unspecified severity L98.A32 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left hand L98.A321 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left hand limited to breakdown of skin L98.A328 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left hand with other specified severity L98.A329 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of left hand with unspecified severity L98.A39 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified hand L98.A391 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified hand limited to breakdown of skin L98.A398 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified hand with other specified severity L98.A399 Non-pressure chronic ulcer of unspecified hand with unspecified severity |
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ICD-10-CM code | Code descriptor | Revisions/updates |
|---|---|---|
S30.1 |
Contusion of abdominal wall |
New codes: S30.11 Contusion of abdominal wall S30.12 Contusion of groin S30.13 Contusion of flank (latus) region S30.81A Abrasion of flank S30.82A Blister (nonthermal) of flank S30.84A External constriction of flank S30.85A Superficial foreign body of flank S30.86A Insect bite (nonvenomous) of flank S30.87A Other superficial bite of flank S30.9A Unspecified superficial injury of flank |
T65.8 | Toxic effect of other specified substances | New codes:
T65.84 Toxic effect of xylazine
T65.841 Toxic effect of xylazine, accidental (unintentional)
T65.842 Toxic effect of xylazine, intentional self-harm |
T78.1 | Other adverse food reactions, not elsewhere classified | New codes:
T78.11 Other adverse food reactions due to milk and dairy products T78.110 Other adverse food reactions due to milk and dairy products with tolerance to baked milk
T78.111 Other adverse food reaction due to milk and dairy products with reactivity to baked milk
T78.119 Other adverse food reaction due to milk and dairy products with baked milk tolerance/reactivity, unspecified
T78.121 Other adverse food reaction due to egg with reactivity to baked egg
T78.129 Other adverse food reaction due to egg with baked egg tolerance/reactivity, unspecified |
| W45 | Foreign body or object entering through skin | New code: W45.3 Fishing hook entering through skin |
| Y93 | Activity codes | New codes: Y93.L Other outdoor activity Y93.L1 Activity, splitting wood Y93.L9 Activity, other outdoor activity |
More on ICD-10
ICD-10-CM code | Code descriptor | Revisions/updates |
|---|---|---|
Z56 |
Problems |
Revised code: Z56.89 Other problems related to employment
|
Z59 | Homelessness | New codes:
Z59.02 Unsheltered homelessness
Z59.12 Inadequate housing utilities
Z59.19 Other inadequate housing
Z59.819 Housing instability, housed unspecified
Z59.861 Financial insecurity, difficulty paying for utilities
Z59.868 Other specified financial insecurity
Z59.869 Financial insecurity, unspecified |
Z77 | Other contact with and (suspected) exposures hazardous to health | Z77.3 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to war theater
Z77.31 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to Gulf War theater
Z77.39 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to other war theater
|
Z91.011 | Allergy to milk products | New codes:
Z91.0110 Allergy to milk products, unspecified Z91.0111 Allergy to milk products with tolerance to baked milk
Z91.0112 Allergy to milk products with reactivity to baked milk
Z91.0120 Allergy to eggs, unspecified
Z91.0121 Allergy to eggs with tolerance to baked egg
Z91.0122 Allergy to eggs with reactivity to baked egg
|
Note: The above codes do not reflect an exhaustive list of all the new codes and do not include coding instructions. Please review the 2026 AAD Coding and Billing Manual, ICD-10-CM section, for chapter-specific coding instructions pertaining to the use of these new codes.
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