ICD-10-CM Code For Other Skin Changes: Group Overview

The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code group R23 includes nonspecific skin findings such as discoloration, pallor, cyanosis, and other observable changes in skin appearance that are signs rather than definitive dermatologic diagnoses. These ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes are used to document clinical scenarios where skin appearance is an important sign, capturing the presence, distribution, and acuity of skin changes that may reflect systemic disease or local pathology. Accurate coding within the ICD-10-CM R23 group supports proper claim adjudication, complete clinical documentation, and appropriate reimbursement.

Customize your policy alerts

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Other Skin Changes: Group Overview policy alerts

Get alerted when relevant policies change without checking for updates manually.

Monitor payer policy activity

Receive email alerts as soon as relevant payer policies are published or updated.

ICD-10-CM R23: Other Skin Changes Overview

The ICD-10-CM R23 group covers nonspecific changes in skin appearance such as discoloration, pallor, cyanosis, and other alterations that are signs rather than definitive diagnoses. These codes target the integumentary system and represent clinical observations that may indicate underlying disease or acute findings. Accurate coding matters for reimbursement because it documents the reason for evaluation and supports medical necessity for diagnostic workup or treatment.

When to Use

Use a code from this group when the primary reason for documentation or encounter is an observed change in skin appearance that does not yet have a specific dermatologic diagnosis. These codes are appropriate for reporting skin signs that warrant evaluation, monitoring, or further diagnostic testing to determine underlying causes.

ICD-10-CM Codes

7 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
R23.0	Cyanosis
R23.1	Pallor
R23.2	Flushing
R23.3	Spontaneous ecchymoses
R23.4	Changes in skin texture
R23.8	Other skin changes
R23.9	Unspecified skin changes

DRG Codes

5 rows

DRG Code	Description
606	Minor Skin Disorders with MCC
607	Minor Skin Disorders without MCC
813	Coagulation Disorders
947	Signs and Symptoms with MCC
948	Signs and Symptoms without MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An older adult presents to urgent care with several hours of sudden-onset, widespread flushing and visible reddening of the face and neck after taking a new topical cream; there is no vesiculation or epidermal loss, and vital signs are stable. The clinician documents erythema and localized skin redness without clear dermatitis or systemic allergic reaction, and assigns a code from this group to capture the skin color change. Typical codes: R23.0, R23.1
A middle-aged patient in dermatology clinic reports chronic, slowly progressive brownish hyperpigmented patches on sun-exposed forearms present for years without pruritus; the exam shows benign hyperpigmentation without neoplastic features. Because the visit addresses pigmentary changes as the primary skin finding rather than a specific inflammatory dermatosis, a code from this group is used to reflect the pigmentary alteration. Typical codes: R23.2, R23.3
A hospitalized patient with acute peripheral cyanosis of the hands and feet is noted during sepsis workup; the team documents blue discoloration of the extremities in association with poor perfusion and orders vascular and infectious evaluations. The skin color change is recorded separately from the underlying sepsis diagnosis using an appropriate code from this group to indicate the observed cyanosis. Typical codes: R23.8, R23.9

Related Codes

R20-DISTURBANCES-OF-SKIN-SENSATION

ICD-10-CM Code For Disturbances Of Skin Sensation: Group Overview

R21-RASH-AND-NONSPECIFIC-SKIN-ERUPTION

ICD-10-CM Code For Rash And Other Nonspecific Skin Eruption: Group Overview

R22-LOCALIZED-SWELLING-MASS-LUMP

ICD-10-CM Code For Localized Swelling Mass And Lump Of Skin And Subcutaneous Tissue: Group Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

Trek Health ingests and normalizes Transparency in Coverage data and payer policy updates to give provider organizations a clear view of how commercial reimbursement behaves across markets, payers, and services. Our platform transforms raw payer disclosures into structured intelligence that supports contract evaluation, payer negotiations, and service line strategy. By combining market benchmarks with ongoing policy visibility, Trek helps teams identify variability, risk, and opportunity in commercial reimbursement. The result is faster insight, stronger negotiating positions, and more informed financial decisions.

Explore openpayer tools

View all tools

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

7 rows

ICD-10-CM Code	Description
R23.0	Cyanosis
R23.1	Pallor
R23.2	Flushing
R23.3	Spontaneous ecchymoses
R23.4	Changes in skin texture
R23.8	Other skin changes
R23.9	Unspecified skin changes

DRG Codes

5 rows

DRG Code	Description
606	Minor Skin Disorders with MCC
607	Minor Skin Disorders without MCC
813	Coagulation Disorders
947	Signs and Symptoms with MCC
948	Signs and Symptoms without MCC

Typical Clinical Scenarios

An older adult presents to urgent care with several hours of sudden-onset, widespread flushing and visible reddening of the face and neck after taking a new topical cream; there is no vesiculation or epidermal loss, and vital signs are stable. The clinician documents erythema and localized skin redness without clear dermatitis or systemic allergic reaction, and assigns a code from this group to capture the skin color change. Typical codes: R23.0, R23.1
A middle-aged patient in dermatology clinic reports chronic, slowly progressive brownish hyperpigmented patches on sun-exposed forearms present for years without pruritus; the exam shows benign hyperpigmentation without neoplastic features. Because the visit addresses pigmentary changes as the primary skin finding rather than a specific inflammatory dermatosis, a code from this group is used to reflect the pigmentary alteration. Typical codes: R23.2, R23.3
A hospitalized patient with acute peripheral cyanosis of the hands and feet is noted during sepsis workup; the team documents blue discoloration of the extremities in association with poor perfusion and orders vascular and infectious evaluations. The skin color change is recorded separately from the underlying sepsis diagnosis using an appropriate code from this group to indicate the observed cyanosis. Typical codes: R23.8, R23.9

Related Codes

R20-DISTURBANCES-OF-SKIN-SENSATION

ICD-10-CM Code For Disturbances Of Skin Sensation: Group Overview

R21-RASH-AND-NONSPECIFIC-SKIN-ERUPTION

ICD-10-CM Code For Rash And Other Nonspecific Skin Eruption: Group Overview

R22-LOCALIZED-SWELLING-MASS-LUMP

ICD-10-CM Code For Localized Swelling Mass And Lump Of Skin And Subcutaneous Tissue: Group Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

References

1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.

Published by

Trek Health powers OpenPayer with a leading commercial payer intelligence platform, seamlessly converting fragmented payer data into actionable insights for provider organizations.

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Skin Changes: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Other Skin Changes: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM R23: Other Skin Changes Overview

ICD-10-CM Code For Other Skin Changes: Group Overview

Sign up for ICD-10-CM Code For Other Skin Changes: Group Overview policy alerts

ICD-10-CM R23: Other Skin Changes Overview

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

When should a clinician use codes from the `ICD-10-CM R23` group?

Which specific skin findings are included in `ICD-10-CM R23` codes?

How does accurate coding within `ICD-10-CM R23` affect reimbursement?

Are R23 codes considered primary diagnoses or signs to be further evaluated?

Which related DRGs might be associated with cases coded to `ICD-10-CM R23`?

References

When to Use

ICD-10-CM Codes

DRG Codes

Typical Clinical Scenarios

Related Codes

When should a clinician use codes from the `ICD-10-CM R23` group?

Which specific skin findings are included in `ICD-10-CM R23` codes?

How does accurate coding within `ICD-10-CM R23` affect reimbursement?

Are R23 codes considered primary diagnoses or signs to be further evaluated?

Which related DRGs might be associated with cases coded to `ICD-10-CM R23`?

References