ICD-10 Code L24 – Irritant contact dermatitis (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code L24 – Irritant contact dermatitis
What it is
L24 identifies irritant contact dermatitis, an inflammatory skin reaction caused by direct exposure to an irritating substance. It is not an allergy; the skin is damaged by the exposure itself.
Clinical signs
Typical findings include redness, dryness, scaling, burning, itching, and sometimes cracking or swelling where the irritant touched the skin. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation.
When to use this code
Use L24 when the provider documents irritant contact dermatitis or a similar irritant skin reaction from soaps, detergents, chemicals, solvents, or repeated wet work. Code the documented site and cause if recorded. If the note describes an allergic reaction instead, do not use this code.
Do not use for
Do not use L24 for allergic contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, or nonspecific rash without a documented irritant cause. Check documentation when the trigger is unclear.
Coding tip
Confirm the irritant exposure and affected body site in the record before assigning L24.