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L23.6 ICD-10-CM Code: Allergic contact dermatitis due to food in contact with the skin

Billing Status: YES. This is a valid, specific, and billable ICD-10-CM reference.

Coding at a Glance

Tabular directives
3 Excludes1 · 14 Excludes2

Inpatient Payment Groups (MS-DRG)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

MS-DRGs this diagnosis helps define, as principal or secondary, per the CMS ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v43, Appendix B.

  • MS-DRG 606 — MINOR SKIN DISORDERS WITH MCC (MDC 09)
  • MS-DRG 607 — MINOR SKIN DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC (MDC 09)

A diagnosis appearing in a group's logic does not by itself determine the DRG assigned to a stay; the grouper uses the full claim.

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for L23.6 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Notes without a marker are published on L23.6 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

Excludes1 — Not Coded Here

Conditions generally not reported together with this code (Excludes1) -- an error unless the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

Source: inherited from L23

Excludes2 — Not Included Here

Conditions not covered by this code, but which may be reported alongside it when both are present.

Coder workflow for L23.6

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

Before you code L23.6

  1. L23.6’s title joins a condition with an associated condition or complication. Confirm each component is documented. Where the classification presumes the link through the “with” convention, only a provider statement that the conditions are unrelated defeats it. A combination code is assigned only when it fully identifies the documented conditions; a required second code for the stage, type or manifestation is still reported when the notes ask for it (Guidelines I.B.9, I.A.15).

    Guide: Combination codes →

  2. Check the Excludes1 note: if the documentation supports a condition named there, do not simply proceed with L23.6. Excludes1 conditions are not reported together with this code unless the record shows they are unrelated (Guidelines I.A.12.a).

    See the official tabular notes

Choose the right path

  1. Does the documentation support a condition named in L23.6’s Excludes1 note?
    Yes → Do not simply proceed: review the excluded code. Both are reported only when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated.
    No → Continue.

    ReviewT78.40, L25.9, L30.9

Consider L23.6. Then confirm the code is valid for the date of service in the Verify section.

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).
The associated condition or complication
Whether the associated condition the title names is documented; the “with” convention presumes some links, and a provider statement that the conditions are unrelated defeats it (Guidelines I.A.15).

Official instructions as workflow

  • Excludes1 — check before selecting L23.6(3 notes)

    Coding workflow: If the documentation supports a condition named in this note, do not simply proceed with L23.6: the two are not reported together. The one exception is when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated to each other.

    CompareT78.40, L25.9, L30.9

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

  • Excludes2 — not part of L23.6(14 notes)

    Coding workflow: The conditions named in this note are not included in L23.6. When the record documents both, both may be reported; the note is a boundary, not a prohibition.

    CompareL27.2, L27, H01.1, L22, H60.5, L24

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

Coding decision scenarios

Pattern scenarios for this code’s structure — decision rules, not clinical cases

Documentation: Both the condition L23.6 describes and a condition named in its Excludes1 note are documented for the same encounter.

Coding question: Can both codes be reported?

Path: Review the Excludes1 note and the excluded code, and look for a provider statement on whether the two conditions are related.

Reason: Excludes1 means the two are not coded together; the exception is when the record shows the conditions are unrelated to each other (Guidelines I.A.12.a).

ReviewT78.40, L25.9, L30.9

Documentation: Only one of the components this code’s title joins is documented.

Coding question: Is L23.6 supported?

Path: Review the code for the documented component on its own.

Reason: A combination code is assigned only when it fully identifies the documented conditions; otherwise the documented component takes its own code (Guidelines I.B.9).

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.

Code Overview

Allergic contact dermatitis due to food in contact with the skin is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (L23.6).

MedCoder summary Summary composed by MedCoder from this code's official ICD-10-CM record. The tabular instructional notes themselves appear verbatim below.

Indexed Clinical Terms (3)

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.

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 L23.6 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 6 Excludes1 notes across 2 chapters: L25 — Unspecified contact dermatitis (via L23.-), L50 — Urticaria (via L23.-), L53 — Other erythematous conditions (via L23.-), T61 — Toxic effect of noxious substances eaten as seafood, T62 — Toxic effect of other noxious substances eaten as food, T78.4 — Other and unspecified allergy (via L23.-).

These codes’ tabular lists mark this diagnosis as mutually exclusive — not reported together unless the conditions are documented as unrelated.

Referenced by 5 Excludes2 notes across 2 chapters: L24 — Irritant contact dermatitis (via L23.-), L27 — Dermatitis due to substances taken internally (via L23.-), L27.2 — Dermatitis due to ingested food, L30 — Other and unspecified dermatitis (via L23.-), T78.1 — Other adverse food reactions, not elsewhere classified.

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

Referenced by 22 Code First instructions across 2 chapters: F54 — Psychological and behavioral factors associated with disorders or diseases classified elsewhere (via L23.-), T36 — Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of systemic antibiotics (via L23.-), T36-T39 — Antibiotics & Anti-infectives (T36-T39) (via L23.-), T36-T50 — Poisoning by, adverse effects of and underdosing of drugs, medicaments and biological substances (T36-T50) (via L23.-), T37 — Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of other systemic anti-infectives and antiparasitics (via L23.-), T38 — Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of hormones and their synthetic substitutes and antagonists, not elsewhere classified (via L23.-), T39 — Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of nonopioid analgesics, antipyretics and antirheumatics (via L23.-), T40 — Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of narcotics and psychodysleptics [hallucinogens] (via L23.-), T40-T41 — Analgesics & Antipyretics (T40-T41) (via L23.-), T41 — Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of anesthetics and therapeutic gases (via L23.-), T42 — Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of antiepileptic, sedative- hypnotic and antiparkinsonism drugs (via L23.-), T42-T43 — Anticonvulsants & Psychotropics (T42-T43) (via L23.-), T43 — Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of psychotropic drugs, not elsewhere classified (via L23.-), T44 — Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of drugs primarily affecting the autonomic nervous system (via L23.-), T44-T46 — Cardiovascular & Gastrointestinal (T44-T46) (via L23.-), T45 — Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of primarily systemic and hematological agents, not elsewhere classified (via L23.-), T46 — Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of agents primarily affecting the cardiovascular system (via L23.-), T47 — Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of agents primarily affecting the gastrointestinal system (via L23.-), T47-T50 — Hormones & Systemic Agents (T47-T50) (via L23.-), T48 — Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of agents primarily acting on smooth and skeletal muscles and the respiratory system (via L23.-), +2 more.

Each of these codes carries a Code First note naming this condition — when that code is reported, THIS code is sequenced first, ahead of it.

MS-DRG Grouper Relationships (FY2026)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

Not on the CMS CC/MCC list — as a secondary diagnosis this code does not change MS-DRG severity.

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):SKN005 — Contact dermatitis (default); INJ031 — Allergic reactions.

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 categories (Contact dermatitis, Allergic reactions).

L20.84 — Intrinsic (allergic) eczema, L20.89 — Other atopic dermatitis, L20.9 — Atopic dermatitis, unspecified, L22 — Diaper dermatitis, L23.0 — Allergic contact dermatitis due to metals, L23.1 — Allergic contact dermatitis due to adhesives, L23.2 — Allergic contact dermatitis due to cosmetics, L23.3 — Allergic contact dermatitis due to drugs in contact with skin, L23.4 — Allergic contact dermatitis due to dyes, L23.5 — Allergic contact dermatitis due to other chemical products, L23.7 — Allergic contact dermatitis due to plants, except food, L23.81 — Allergic contact dermatitis due to animal (cat) (dog) dander, L23.89 — Allergic contact dermatitis due to other agents, L23.9 — Allergic contact dermatitis, unspecified cause, L24.0 — Irritant contact dermatitis due to detergents, L24.1 — Irritant contact dermatitis due to oils and greases, L24.2 — Irritant contact dermatitis due to solvents, L24.3 — Irritant contact dermatitis due to cosmetics, L24.4 — Irritant contact dermatitis due to drugs in contact with skin, L24.5 — Irritant contact dermatitis due to other chemical products, +131 more

Same Index main term, other category

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

L13.1 — Subcorneal pustular dermatitis (pustular, subcorneal), L13.8 — Other specified bullous disorders (bullous, bullosa, specified NEC), L13.9 — Bullous disorder, unspecified (bullous, bullosa), L20.82 — Flexural eczema (flexural NEC), L20.89 — Other atopic dermatitis (atopic, specified NEC), L20.9 — Atopic dermatitis, unspecified (atopic), L21.1 — Seborrheic infantile dermatitis (seborrheic, infantile), L21.8 — Other seborrheic dermatitis (seborrheic, specified NEC), L21.9 — Seborrheic dermatitis, unspecified (seborrheic), L22 — Diaper dermatitis (diaper), L24.0 — Irritant contact dermatitis due to detergents (due to, detergents), L24.1 — Irritant contact dermatitis due to oils and greases (due to, oils NEC), L24.2 — Irritant contact dermatitis due to solvents (due to, esters), L24.3 — Irritant contact dermatitis due to cosmetics (due to, cosmetics, irritant), L24.4 — Irritant contact dermatitis due to drugs in contact with skin (contact, irritant, due to, drugs in contact with skin), L24.5 — Irritant contact dermatitis due to other chemical products (due to, acids), L24.6 — Irritant contact dermatitis due to food in contact with skin (contact, irritant, due to, food in contact with skin), L24.7 — Irritant contact dermatitis due to plants, except food (due to, plants NEC, irritant), L24.81 — Irritant contact dermatitis due to metals (due to, nickel), L24.89 — Irritant contact dermatitis due to other agents (caterpillar), +149 more

Contextual Map

Every relationship of L23.6 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 L23.6 with these 19 related codes in Claim Check

Hierarchy

Excludes2

Referenced by Excludes1 notes

Referenced by Excludes2 notes

Referenced by Code First instructions (22)

Clinical classification (CCSR)

MS-DRG Grouper

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

  • Allergy, allergic (reaction) (to), food NEC (any) (ingested), in contact with skin[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Dermatitis (eczematous), contact (occupational), allergic, due to, food in contact with skin[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Itch, itching, baker's[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026

Nearest codes (12)

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

Change history

  • FY2016 — October 1, 2015
    In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption
    Allergic contact dermatitis due to food in contact with the skin

No changes since FY2016 — additions, deletions, description changes and billable-status changes are tracked through FY2027 (effective October 1, 2026), and none are recorded for this code. Note changes are tracked from FY2027 only.

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to L23.6 in its code family, with their registry titles.

View all codes in the L23 family