L21.0 ICD-10-CM Code: Seborrhea capitis

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for L21.0 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Source: CMS/CDC — ICD-10-CM Tabular ListRelease: FY2026Effective: October 1, 2025

Notes without a marker are published on L21.0 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

Coder workflow for L21.0

MedCoder structured workflow — derived from this code’s own official record

Documentation check

The provider’s diagnostic statement

Codes are assigned from the provider’s documented diagnosis, not from clinical criteria, test values or a medication list (Guidelines I.A.19).

Official instructions as workflow

• Excludes2 — not part of L21.0(10 notes)

  Coding workflow: The conditions named in this note are not included in L21.0. When the record documents both, both may be reported; the note is a boundary, not a prohibition.

  CompareL30.3, L82, D71, L08.0, L13.0, L85.3

  See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.b

Every row is derived from this code’s own record — its title, tabular notes, 7th-character family and same-category siblings — with fixed MedCoder wording; nothing is inferred about a patient. The official notes and guideline text are in the sections each row links to, and they control.

Indexed Clinical Terms (9)

Official source data — entries quoted as published, in the Index’s own lookup phrasing

Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code. These are alphabetic-index entries shown as the Index writes them — lookup phrasing, not necessarily the wording of a final diagnosis.

• Cradle cap
• Crusta lactea
• Dandruff
• Furfur
• Milk, crust
• Pityriasis (capitis)
• Pityriasis (capitis), furfuracea
• Seborrhea, seborrheic, capitis
• Seborrhea, seborrheic, sicca

Don’t confuse L21.0 with…

MedCoder analysis — pairs from this code’s official notes, distinctions written by MedCoder

The codes most likely to be picked instead of L21.0 — named in its own official notes, or sharing its laterality or encounter family — with what separates them and which documentation moves the case. Each links to the full comparison.

• L21.9— Specificity relationship (Review)

  Overlapping diagnoses in the same category.

  Overlapping codes in the same category — the documentation decides which is the more specific fit.

  What moves you there: A record that documents no more than “Seborrheic dermatitis, unspecified” takes L21.9; specificity in the record moves it back here.

  Full comparison: L21.0 vs L21.9 →

• L30.3— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of infective dermatitis adds L30.3; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: L21.0 vs L30.3 →

• L82— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of seborrheic keratosis adds L82; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: L21.0 vs L82 →

• D71— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of chronic (childhood) granulomatous disease adds D71; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: L21.0 vs D71 →

• L08.0— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of dermatitis gangrenosa adds L08.0; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: L21.0 vs L08.0 →

• L13.0— Excludes2 relationship (Informational)

  Distinct conditions — both may be reported.

  A distinct condition — both may be reported when both are documented.

  What moves you there: Documentation of dermatitis herpetiformis adds L13.0; it is not part of this code and both may be reported when both are documented.

  Full comparison: L21.0 vs L13.0 →

Relationships are read from this code's own official notes, its laterality siblings and its encounter family; the wording of each distinction is MedCoder editorial, and the documentation named in each “what moves you there” line is the official note phrase or sibling title itself. Source: CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes; ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a.

Verify Before Coding

• No Medicare Code Editor or MS-DRG Definitions Manual restrictions apply to this code.

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim in Claim Check.

Relationships & Classification

MedCoder structured relationships — computed from published CMS and AHRQ datasets

Other codes that name L21.0 or its code family, from the CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes. Tabular-note edges are stored at the code family level that carries each note.

Referenced by 2 Excludes2 notes across 2 chapters: L82 — Seborrheic keratosis (via L21.-), P83 — Other conditions of integument specific to newborn.

These codes’ tabular lists name this diagnosis as distinct — both may be reported when both are documented.

MS-DRG Grouper Relationships (FY2026)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

FY2026 MS-DRG: not on the CMS CC/MCC list — as a secondary diagnosis this code does not change MS-DRG severity for that release.

Named in the grouper logic of 2 MS-DRGs: DRG 606 (MDC 09), DRG 607 (MDC 09).

From the CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendices B and C). Actual DRG assignment depends on the complete claim.

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):SKN002 — Other specified inflammatory condition of skin (default).

Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Related Codes

Same clinical category (CCSR)

AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software groups these diagnoses under the same clinical category (Other specified inflammatory condition of skin).

L13.8 — Other specified bullous disorders, L13.9 — Bullous disorder, unspecified, L14 — Bullous disorders in diseases classified elsewhere, L20.0 — Besnier's prurigo, L20.81 — Atopic neurodermatitis, L20.82 — Flexural eczema, L20.83 — Infantile (acute) (chronic) eczema, L20.84 — Intrinsic (allergic) eczema, L20.89 — Other atopic dermatitis, L20.9 — Atopic dermatitis, unspecified, L21.1 — Seborrheic infantile dermatitis, L21.8 — Other seborrheic dermatitis, L21.9 — Seborrheic dermatitis, unspecified, L26 — Exfoliative dermatitis, L27.0 — Generalized skin eruption due to drugs and medicaments taken internally, L27.1 — Localized skin eruption due to drugs and medicaments taken internally, L27.2 — Dermatitis due to ingested food, L27.8 — Dermatitis due to other substances taken internally, L27.9 — Dermatitis due to unspecified substance taken internally, L28.0 — Lichen simplex chronicus, +145 more

Same Index main term, other category

The ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries files this code under the main terms “Pityriasis”, “Milk”, “Seborrhea, seborrheic”, …; these codes share that main term but sit in a different category of the Tabular List.

B36.0 — Pityriasis versicolor (microsporon), B36.1 — Tinea nigra (nigra), I31.0 — Chronic adhesive pericarditis (spots), L26 — Exfoliative dermatitis (Hebra's), L30.5 — Pityriasis alba (alba), L41.0 — Pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (lichenoides), L41.1 — Pityriasis lichenoides chronica (lichenoides, chronica), L42 — Pityriasis rosea (rosea), L44.0 — Pityriasis rubra pilaris (rubrapilaris), L44.8 — Other specified papulosquamous disorders (rotunda), O92.6 — Galactorrhea (excessive secretion), O92.79 — Other disorders of lactation (retention), R23.8 — Other skin changes (capillitii)

Lab tests where this diagnosis supports Medicare coverage (NCD)

Medicare's National Coverage Determination (NCD) program lists this diagnosis as medical justification for these lab tests.

HIV Screening Test

Contextual Map

Every relationship of L21.0 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Run L21.0 with these 2 related codes in Claim Check

Hierarchy

• L00-L99 — Chapter 12: Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue (L00-L99) (L00-L99)[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• L20-L30 — Dermatitis and eczema[Hierarchy]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026

Referenced by Excludes2 notes

• L82 — Seborrheic keratosis[Excludes2](via L21.-): “seborrheic dermatitis (L21.-)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026
• P83 — Other conditions of integument specific to newborn[Excludes2]: “cradle cap (L21.0)”— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes · icd10cm-fy2026

Clinical classification (CCSR)

• SKN002 — Other specified inflammatory condition of skin[CCSR]— AHRQ CCSR for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses (HCUP)

MS-DRG Grouper

• DRG 606 — MINOR SKIN DISORDERS WITH MCC[MS-DRG]: “MINOR SKIN DISORDERS WITH MCC (MDC 09)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026
• DRG 607 — MINOR SKIN DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC[MS-DRG]: “MINOR SKIN DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC (MDC 09)”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendix B) · FY2026

MDC crossing

• MDC 09 — Diseases and Disorders of the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast[MDC crossing]: “Diseases and Disorders of the Skin, Subcutaneous Tissue and Breast — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs. 7,376 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2026

Index entries (9)

• Cradle cap[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Crusta lactea[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Dandruff[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Furfur[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Milk, crust[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Pityriasis (capitis)[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Pityriasis (capitis), furfuracea[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• Seborrhea, seborrheic, capitis[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
• and 1 more

Nearest codes

• L21 — Seborrheic dermatitis[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• L21.1 — Seborrheic infantile dermatitis[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• L21.8 — Other seborrheic dermatitis[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026
• L21.9 — Seborrheic dermatitis, unspecified[Sibling]— CMS ICD-10-CM tabular structure · icd10cm-fy2026

Change history

• FY2016 — In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption [Change history]— CMS release files (code change ledger) · icd10cm-fy2016

Sources for this page

Codes, titles, notes, index terms and mappings on this page are transcribed from the datasets below. Relationships MedCoder computed and text MedCoder wrote are labelled where they appear.

Code, title, tabular notes and index terms Official source data

CMS/CDC ICD-10-CM FY2026 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2025 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Claim edits Official source data

CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v43.1 (April 2026) Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Inpatient payment groups Official source data

CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (incl. Appendix B diagnosis index, Appendix C CC/MCC list, Appendix E procedure index) and IPPS Final Rule tables — v43 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Change history and date-of-service validity Official source data

CMS ICD-10-CM release addenda, ingested release by release into the change ledger Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page

Comparisons, relationships and the contextual map MedCoder structured relationship

Computed by MedCoder from the tabular notes and tables above; every derived relationship is marked as derived where it appears

Summary and FAQ answers MedCoder explanation

Written by MedCoder to explain the sources above: drafted with AI assistance, checked by a person against the release files, and labelled as MedCoder text where it appears. Not official text.

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder structured relationship · MedCoder explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to L21.0 in its code family, with their registry titles.

• L21 — Seborrheic dermatitis
• L21.1 — Seborrheic infantile dermatitis
• L21.8 — Other seborrheic dermatitis
• L21.9 — Seborrheic dermatitis, unspecified

View all codes in the L21 family