Skip to main content

L53.0 ICD-10-CM Code: Toxic erythema

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

Coding at a Glance

Tabular directives
6 Excludes1 · 1 use-additional code · 1 code-first instruction

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 595 — MAJOR SKIN DISORDERS WITH MCC (MDC 09)
  • MS-DRG 596 — MAJOR SKIN DISORDERS WITHOUT MCC (MDC 09)
  • MS-DRG 791 — PREMATURITY WITH MAJOR PROBLEMS (MDC 15)
  • MS-DRG 793 — FULL TERM NEONATE WITH MAJOR PROBLEMS (MDC 15)

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 L53.0 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 L53.0 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).

Code First

Underlying conditions that must be sequenced before this code.

  • poisoning due to drug or toxin, if applicable (T36-T65 with fifth or sixth character 1-4)

Use Additional Code

Supplementary codes the tabular list directs you to add.

  • Use additional code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5)

Coder workflow for L53.0

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

Before you code L53.0

  1. Check the Excludes1 note: if the documentation supports a condition named there, do not simply proceed with L53.0. 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 L53.0’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.

    ReviewP83.1, L59.0, L30.4, A69.2, L71

  2. Is the underlying (etiologic) condition the Code First note names documented?
    Yes → Sequence the underlying condition first, then L53.0.
    No → Continue; do not add an underlying condition the record does not document.

Consider L53.0. Then work the Use Additional Code note, and 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 underlying (etiologic) condition
Named in the Code First note; sequenced before this code when documented (Guidelines I.A.13).
The conditions the Use Additional Code note names
Reported with this code when documented; a conditional instruction (“if applicable”, “if known”) applies only when the record supports it.

Official instructions as workflow

  • Excludes1 — check before selecting L53.0(6 notes)

    Coding workflow: If the documentation supports a condition named in this note, do not simply proceed with L53.0: the two are not reported together. The one exception is when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated to each other.

    CompareP83.1, L59.0, L30.4, A69.2, L71

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

  • Code First — sequencing check(1 note)

    Coding workflow: Check whether the underlying or etiologic condition the note names is documented. When it is, sequence it before L53.0. Do not add an underlying condition the record does not document.

    See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.13

  • Use Additional Code — after identifying L53.0(1 note)

    Coding workflow: Check whether the documentation supports the additional code(s) the note names, and report them with L53.0 when it does. Where the instruction is conditional (“if applicable”, “if known”), it applies only when the record documents the condition.

    See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.13

Coding decision scenarios

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

Documentation: Both the condition L53.0 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).

ReviewP83.1, L59.0, L30.4, A69.2, L71

Documentation: The underlying condition the Code First note names is documented alongside this condition.

Coding question: How are the two sequenced?

Path: Review the Code First note.

Reason: The underlying condition is sequenced first and the manifestation follows (Guidelines I.A.13).

Documentation: A condition the Use Additional Code note names is documented.

Coding question: Is a second code reported with L53.0?

Path: Review the Use Additional Code note and the code it names.

Reason: The additional code is reported when the record documents the condition; a conditional instruction applies only when its condition is met (Guidelines I.A.13).

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

Toxic erythema is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (L53.0).

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.

Decision Points

The directives on this code's own record, as a pre-claim checklist.

  1. Sequencing: 1 Code First instruction — the underlying condition is sequenced before this code when present. See the Code First notes
  2. 1 Use Additional Code instruction — report the named additional code(s) when the documentation supports them. See the Use Additional Code notes
  3. 6 Excludes1 entries — codes named there are generally not reported together with this code (Guidelines I.A.12.a). See the Excludes1 notes

Checklist rows are derived from this code's own official directives; the wording of each check is MedCoder editorial. The official notes themselves are in the sections each row links to.

Verify Before Coding

  • CC as a secondary diagnosis (FY2026). Can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier.

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

MS-DRG Grouper Relationships (FY2026)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

FY2026 MS-DRG: CC — Complication or Comorbidity. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, this code raises the stay's MS-DRG severity tier — except when the principal diagnosis is one of 27 clinically related codes on its CMS exclusion list.

Named in the grouper logic of 4 MS-DRGs: DRG 595 (MDC 09), DRG 596 (MDC 09), DRG 791 (MDC 15), DRG 793 (MDC 15).

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); INJ030 — Drug induced or toxic related condition.

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 process (MS-DRG)

Acts as CC — raises the severity of other admissions. CMS groups these diagnoses into one MS-DRG principal-diagnosis exclusion process — a CC/MCC on this list never raises severity when the principal diagnosis is also on it.

L12.35 — Other acquired epidermolysis bullosa, L44.8 — Other specified papulosquamous disorders, L44.9 — Papulosquamous disorder, unspecified, L51.0 — Nonbullous erythema multiforme, L51.1 — Stevens-Johnson syndrome, L51.2 — Toxic epidermal necrolysis [Lyell], L51.3 — Stevens-Johnson syndrome-toxic epidermal necrolysis overlap syndrome, L51.8 — Other erythema multiforme, L51.9 — Erythema multiforme, unspecified, L52 — Erythema nodosum, L53.1 — Erythema annulare centrifugum, L53.2 — Erythema marginatum, L53.3 — Other chronic figurate erythema, L71.0 — Perioral dermatitis, L71.1 — Rhinophyma, L71.8 — Other rosacea, L71.9 — Rosacea, unspecified, L93.0 — Discoid lupus erythematosus, L93.1 — Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, L93.2 — Other local lupus erythematosus, +6 more

Same clinical category (CCSR)

AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software groups these diagnoses under the same clinical categories (Other specified inflammatory condition of skin, Drug induced or toxic related condition).

L50.6 — Contact urticaria, L50.8 — Other urticaria, L50.9 — Urticaria, unspecified, L51.0 — Nonbullous erythema multiforme, L51.1 — Stevens-Johnson syndrome, L51.2 — Toxic epidermal necrolysis [Lyell], L51.3 — Stevens-Johnson syndrome-toxic epidermal necrolysis overlap syndrome, L51.8 — Other erythema multiforme, L51.9 — Erythema multiforme, unspecified, L52 — Erythema nodosum, L53.1 — Erythema annulare centrifugum, L53.2 — Erythema marginatum, L53.3 — Other chronic figurate erythema, L53.8 — Other specified erythematous conditions, L53.9 — Erythematous condition, unspecified, L54 — Erythema in diseases classified elsewhere, L55.0 — Sunburn of first degree, L55.1 — Sunburn of second degree, L55.2 — Sunburn of third degree, L55.9 — Sunburn, unspecified, +390 more

Same Index main term, other category

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

L24.5 — Irritant contact dermatitis due to other chemical products (due to, chemical NEC, in contact with skin), L27.0 — Generalized skin eruption due to drugs and medicaments taken internally (drug), L27.1 — Localized skin eruption due to drugs and medicaments taken internally (drug, fixed), L28.0 — Lichen simplex chronicus (skin, lichenoid), L30.4 — Erythema intertrigo (intertrigo), L51.0 — Nonbullous erythema multiforme (multiforme, nonbullous), L51.1 — Stevens-Johnson syndrome (multiforme, conjunctiva), L51.8 — Other erythema multiforme (multiforme, specified NEC), L51.9 — Erythema multiforme, unspecified (iris), L52 — Erythema nodosum (nodosum), L54 — Erythema in diseases classified elsewhere (in diseases classified elsewhere), L55.0 — Sunburn of first degree (solare), L56.4 — Polymorphous light eruption (polymorphous light), L59.0 — Erythema ab igne [dermatitis ab igne] (ab igne), L95.1 — Erythema elevatum diutinum (elevatum diutinum), L98.1 — Factitial dermatitis (skin, feigned), P83.1 — Neonatal erythema toxicum (neonatorum, toxic), P83.88 — Other specified conditions of integument specific to newborn (neonatorum), Q80.3 — Congenital bullous ichthyosiform erythroderma (ichthyosiforme congenitum bullous), R21 — Rash and other nonspecific skin eruption (skin), +16 more

Contextual Map

Every relationship of L53.0 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 L53.0 with these 9 related codes in Claim Check

Hierarchy

Excludes1

Code First (30)

Use Additional Code (15)

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
  • MDC 15 — Newborns and Other Neonates with Conditions Originating in Perinatal Period[MDC crossing]: “Newborns and Other Neonates with Conditions Originating in Perinatal Period — 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.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2026

Index entries

  • Eruption, skin (nonspecific), toxic NEC[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Erythema, erythematous (infectional) (inflammation), due to, chemical NEC[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Erythema, erythematous (infectional) (inflammation), toxic, toxicum NEC[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026

Nearest codes

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

Cite this page

Reference this page in a research guide, syllabus or article. The release is included because code content changes each year.

MedCoder.ai. "L53.0 — Toxic erythema." ICD-10-CM FY2026. https://medcoder.ai/icd10/code/l53.0-toxic-erythema

Change history

  • FY2016 — October 1, 2015
    In the code set at ICD-10-CM adoption
    Toxic erythema

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 L53.0 in its code family, with their registry titles.

View all codes in the L53 family