The ICD-10-CM code for hair loss is L65.9 (Nonscarring hair loss, unspecified), a billable code reported when nonscarring alopecia is documented without further specification of the underlying type or cause.
Primary codes
Billable
Billable
Extension
—
7th character
—
POA exempt
No
Inclusion terms
- Alopecia NOS
Coding risks
- Assigning when documentation supports a more specific code
Hierarchy
Code comparison
Compare key differences between related codes to select the most specific option.
| Code | Description | Scenario |
|---|---|---|
| L65.9 | Nonscarring hair loss, unspecified | Nonscarring hair loss documented without specifying telogen, anagen, or mucinosa etiology. |
| L65.0 | Telogen effluvium | Diffuse hair shedding documented after stressor, illness, or childbirth, consistent with telogen-phase shedding. |
| L65.1 | Anagen effluvium | Anagen effluvium documented, typically abrupt shedding tied to chemotherapy or toxic exposure during active hair growth. |
| L65.2 | Alopecia mucinosa | Alopecia mucinosa with follicular mucinosis confirmed on biopsy, driving hair loss. |
Select the most specific code supported by the encounter documentation. More specific codes improve reimbursement accuracy and reduce audit risk.
Code ranges
Other nonscarring hair loss
Category covering nonscarring alopecia types including telogen effluvium, anagen effluvium, and alopecia mucinosa, excluding patchy autoimmune forms.
Disorders of skin appendages
Sub-chapter grouping disorders of hair, nails, sweat glands, and sebaceous glands within the integumentary system.
Alopecia areata
Autoimmune patchy hair loss categories including alopecia totalis, universalis, and ophiasis presentations of nonscarring type.
Cicatricial alopecia (scarring hair loss)
Range for scarring alopecias including pseudopelade, folliculitis decalvans, and lichen planopilaris with permanent follicular destruction.
Androgenic alopecia
Range for male and female pattern hair loss driven by androgen sensitivity, including drug-induced androgenic forms.
Coding risks
Avoid these common coding issues when reporting Hair Loss.
Impact
Assigning L65.9 without an explicit pattern may miscode cases that belong under telogen effluvium (L65.0) or scarring alopecia (L66).
Mitigation
Consider querying the provider when the pattern is absent rather than inferring from medication history or timing alone.
Related codes
Ancillary and co-coding
Codes commonly reported with the primary diagnosis on the same claim.
Z-code variants
Family history, personal history, or screening encounter codes related to this condition.
Differential codes
Alternative or commonly confused codes to consider when documentation suggests a different condition than the primary diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions
Use L65.9 only when the chart documents nonscarring alopecia without specifying telogen effluvium, anagen effluvium, or another named subtype.
References
Compiled from the following authoritative coding references. Last updated 2026-08-04.