ICD-10 Code L24.4 – Irritant contact dermatitis due to drugs in contact with skin (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code L24.4 – Irritant contact dermatitis due to drugs in contact with skin
What it is
L24.4 identifies irritant contact dermatitis caused by drugs touching the skin. Use it when the skin reaction is due to direct irritation, not an allergic response.
Clinical signs
Typical findings include localized redness, dryness, burning, stinging, or scaling at the contact site. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation.
When to use this code
Use L24.4 when documentation states a drug applied to or contacting the skin caused an irritant dermatitis. This may include reactions after topical medication exposure or accidental skin contact. Code only when the provider links the dermatitis to the drug and describes an irritant mechanism.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for allergic contact dermatitis or unspecified dermatitis. Check documentation if the reaction is from ingestion, injection, or another non-skin route.
Coding tip
Confirm both the causative drug and the irritant nature of the dermatitis in the record before assigning L24.4.