Skin Tag ICD-10 Code (L91.8) & CPT 11200: 2026 Coding and Billing Guide

The ICD-10 code for a skin tag (acrochordon) is L91.8, Other hypertrophic disorders of the skin. Skin tag removal is billed with CPT 11200 for up to 15 tags, plus 11201 for each additional 10 tags or part thereof, whatever the removal method. Anal and perianal tags follow different rules: K64.4 for the diagnosis and CPT 46220 or 46230 for the excision.

Skin tags are among the most common lesions a dermatology or primary care practice removes. They are also among the most commonly denied claims. Most payers treat removal as cosmetic unless the chart proves the tag caused a problem. At AffinityCore, our certified coders see the same errors again and again: the wrong diagnosis code, a wrong lesion count, cryotherapy billed as destruction, and no symptom documented. This guide covers every code you need to get skin tag claims paid the first time.

What Is the ICD-10 Code for a Skin Tag?

L91.8 (Other hypertrophic disorders of the skin) is the correct ICD-10-CM code for a skin tag. It covers acrochordons, soft fibromas and fibroepithelial polyps of the skin. The ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index sends “Tag (hypertrophied skin) (infected)” straight to L91.8.

A skin tag is a small, soft, benign growth of skin that hangs from a thin stalk. Tags usually form where skin rubs against skin or clothing: the neck, armpits, eyelids, groin and under the breasts. Clinicians call them acrochordons or fibroepithelial polyps. All three names code to the same place.

Is L91.8 billable?

Yes. L91.8 is a billable, valid code for the 2027 ICD-10-CM code set, effective October 1, 2026. It has not changed since ICD-10-CM began in October 2015. Its parent category, L91 (Hypertrophic disorders of skin), is not billable, because it is a header. A claim sent with L91 alone is rejected for lacking specificity.

Code	Description	Billable?	Use it for
L91	Hypertrophic disorders of skin	No (category header)	Never on a claim
L91.0	Hypertrophic scar	Yes	Keloid or hypertrophic scars, not tags
L91.8	Other hypertrophic disorders of the skin	Yes	Skin tags, acrochordons, fibroepithelial polyps
L91.9	Hypertrophic disorder of the skin, unspecified	Yes	Avoid; use L91.8 when the lesion is a tag

Acrochordon vs fibroepithelial polyp: is the code different?

Usually not. When the provider documents a skin tag, acrochordon or fibroepithelial polyp of the skin, code L91.8. Change the code only when pathology returns a different diagnosis. For example, if the report confirms a benign neoplasm of the skin, code it from the D23 category by site (D23.9 when the site is unspecified). Never assign D23 codes from the clinical impression alone. Wait for the pathology report.

Skin Tag ICD-10 Codes by Location and Type

Most skin tags code to L91.8, wherever they are on the body. A few sites and situations have their own codes, and using L91.8 there is a common error.

Situation	ICD-10-CM code	Note
Skin tag on neck, axilla, groin, trunk, under breasts	L91.8	Default code for acquired skin tags
Multiple skin tags, any area	L91.8	Report once; the count is captured in the CPT units
Eyelid skin tag	L91.8	Use H02.- only if a separate eyelid disorder is documented
Anal or perianal skin tag	K64.4	Residual hemorrhoidal skin tags; the index sends “Tag, anus” here
Sentinel tag with an anal fissure	K60.-	Code the fissure (acute, chronic or unspecified)
Congenital skin tag (present at birth)	Q82.8	Other specified congenital malformations of skin
Preauricular (ear) skin tag	Q17.0	Accessory auricle
Pathology confirms a benign neoplasm	D23.-	Code by site from the path report, not the clinical impression
Purely cosmetic removal, no symptoms	Z41.1	Encounter for cosmetic surgery; usually self-pay

What is the ICD-10 code for an anal or perianal skin tag?

K64.4 (Residual hemorrhoidal skin tags) is the code for anal and perianal skin tags. Don’t use L91.8 here: the ICD-10-CM index sends “Tag, anus” to K64.4. When the tag sits next to an anal fissure (a sentinel tag), code the fissure from category K60 as well.

Q82.8: when is a skin tag congenital?

Use Q82.8 only when the provider documents that the tag has been present since birth. Preauricular tags in front of the ear are the exception, because they have their own code, Q17.0. A tag that appears in adulthood is acquired and codes to L91.8.

What Is the CPT Code for Skin Tag Removal?

CPT 11200 is the code for skin tag removal. It covers up to and including 15 tags in a session, from any area of the body. Add CPT 11201 for each additional 10 tags, or part of 10. These codes apply whether the tags are snipped, shaved, tied off, cauterized or frozen.

CPT 11200 description

CPT 11200: Removal of skin tags, multiple fibrocutaneous tags, any area; up to and including 15 lesions.

CPT 11201: each additional 10 lesions, or part thereof (list separately in addition to code for primary procedure).

Key rules for 11200:

• Bill one unit of 11200 per session, whether you remove 1 tag or 15.
• 11201 is an add-on code. It is never billed alone, and one unit covers each block of up to 10 extra tags.
• Add up every tag removed in the session, across all body sites and methods, before choosing units.
• 11200 carries a 10-day global period. A same-day E/M is billable only with modifier 25, and only when it is significant and separately identifiable.

How many units do I bill?

Tags removed in one session	Codes to bill
1–15	11200 × 1
16–25	11200 × 1 + 11201 × 1
26–35	11200 × 1 + 11201 × 2
36–45	11200 × 1 + 11201 × 3

What is the CPT code for skin tag removal by cryotherapy?

Still 11200 (and 11201). Liquid nitrogen removal of skin tags has no separate code. Don’t bill 17110 (destruction of benign lesions, up to 14). Its descriptor specifically excludes skin tags, so payers deny it when the diagnosis is L91.8. Use 17110 for warts, molluscum or seborrheic keratoses treated in the same visit, with modifier 59 or XS to show the separate lesions.

Skin tag excision CPT code: when is it not 11200?

• Anal or perianal tags: CPT 46220 for one external papilla or tag of the anus, CPT 46230 for multiple. Pair them with K64.4.
• A lesion excised with margins that turns out not to be a tag: code a benign lesion excision (11400–11446) by site and excised diameter. Only do this when the note describes a full-thickness excision and pathology supports it.
• A lesion removed by shave that isn’t a tag (for example, a seborrheic keratosis): shave removal codes 11300–11313.

The operative note decides the code, not the instrument used. “Snipped 6 acrochordons at base with iris scissors” is 11200, even though scissors cut.

Is Skin Tag Removal Covered by Insurance?

Skin tag removal is covered only when it is medically necessary. Medicare and most commercial payers treat removing an asymptomatic tag as cosmetic and won’t pay for it. A claim with L91.8 and no documented symptom is one of the most predictable denials in dermatology.

What documentation proves medical necessity?

Medicare contractors’ benign lesion removal policies generally cover removal when the chart shows at least one of the following:

• Bleeding, or repeated bleeding
• Intense itching or pain
• Inflammation or infection, such as purulence, oozing or edema
• Repeated irritation from clothing, jewelry, a collar or a bra strap
• Obstruction of vision or of a body opening, such as a tag on the eyelid margin
• Recent change in size, color or appearance, or a reasonable doubt that the lesion is benign

A strong note names the symptom, the site, the number of tags and the method. Example: “Patient reports 3 skin tags at right axilla catching on bra strap and bleeding twice in the past month. Removed 3 acrochordons by snip excision; hemostasis with aluminum chloride.”

Code the symptom too, with L91.8 first and the symptom code after it, for example L29.9 (pruritus) or L08.9 (local skin infection). Check your MAC’s billing and coding article for the exact secondary codes it accepts.

Which Medicare modifiers apply to cosmetic skin tag removal?

Situation	Modifier	What it tells Medicare
Purely cosmetic removal, patient chooses to pay	GY (plus GX if a voluntary ABN was signed)	The service is statutorily excluded, so the patient is billed directly
Medical necessity is doubtful, and an ABN was signed	GA	Denial is expected; the patient is liable because a valid ABN is on file
Medical necessity is doubtful, and no ABN	GZ	Denial is expected; the practice absorbs the cost
Symptoms are documented	None	Bill 11200 with L91.8 plus the symptom codes

For commercial plans, collect a signed financial waiver before removing a cosmetic tag, and code Z41.1. Many plans write cosmetic exclusions into the member contract, so the patient pays at the time of service.

Related Dermatology ICD-10 Codes Coders Often Need

Skin tags are often found during a broader skin visit, so these related codes appear on the same claims.

Search term	ICD-10-CM code	Description
Skin exam / skin check (screening)	Z12.83	Encounter for screening for malignant neoplasm of skin
Skin check with history of skin cancer	Z85.828 / Z85.820	Personal history of other skin cancer / of melanoma
Skin lesion, not yet diagnosed	L98.9	Disorder of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, unspecified
Skin growth, biopsied with path pending	D49.2	Neoplasm of unspecified behavior of bone, soft tissue and skin
Skin changes	R23.8 / R23.9	Other skin changes / unspecified skin changes
Panniculus (panniculectomy)	L98.7	Excessive and redundant skin and subcutaneous tissue

What is the ICD-10 code for a skin exam?

For a routine full-body skin check with no complaints, code Z12.83 (screening for malignant neoplasm of skin). If the patient has a history of skin cancer, add or substitute Z85.828 or Z85.820 for melanoma. If the provider finds and treats a skin tag during the exam, add L91.8 for that procedure.

ICD-10 for panniculectomy

A panniculectomy (CPT 15830) is usually supported by L98.7 (excessive and redundant skin), plus the problem the panniculus causes. Common examples are L30.4 (intertrigo) and Z98.84 (bariatric surgery status). Most payers also require photos and proof that conservative treatment failed.

Common Skin Tag Billing Errors (and How to Avoid Them)

Error	Why it gets denied	The fix
L91.8 with no symptom documented	Payer reads it as cosmetic	Document bleeding, itching, irritation or inflammation, and code it
Billing 17110 for frozen skin tags	17110 excludes skin tags	Bill 11200/11201 for any removal method
One unit of 11200 per tag	11200 already covers up to 15 tags	1 unit of 11200, then 11201 per extra block of 10
11201 billed without 11200	Add-on codes can’t stand alone	Always report 11200 first
L91.8 for anal tags	Index sends anal tags to K64.4	K64.4 with CPT 46220 or 46230
E/M billed without modifier 25	11200 has a 10-day global period	Add 25 only for a separately identifiable visit
D23.- coded before pathology	Diagnosis not yet confirmed	Code L91.8 until the path report returns
No ABN for a Medicare cosmetic removal	Practice can’t bill the patient	Get an ABN signed and use GA or GY/GX

Most of these denials happen before the claim is sent. A coding review that checks the diagnosis, units and documentation together catches them at charge entry. That costs far less than appealing them later.

How AffinityCore Helps Dermatology Practices Get Skin Tag Claims Paid

AffinityCore gives dermatology and primary care practices certified coders who know small procedures like 11200 in detail. We find the errors above before the claim goes out.

• Certified medical coding: AAPC-certified coders match each removal to the right ICD-10 and CPT pair, with the correct units and modifiers.
• Documentation checks: we flag notes that are missing a symptom, a count or a method, so your provider can fix the chart before billing.
• Denial management: cosmetic and medical necessity denials are appealed with the payer’s own policy language.
• Dermatology billing: cosmetic and medical work are separated, ABNs and waivers are tracked, and Mohs, biopsy and pathology claims are handled by dermatology specialists.
• Billing audits: we review past skin tag and lesion claims to find underpayments and repeat denials.

Losing revenue on skin tag and lesion removals? Request a free dermatology billing analysis from AffinityCore. We’ll show you where claims are being denied and what it’s costing your practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ICD-10 code for skin tag removal?

The diagnosis code is L91.8, the same as for the skin tag itself. ICD-10-CM codes the condition, not the procedure. Add a symptom code, such as itching or bleeding, to support medical necessity, and report the removal with CPT 11200.

Is L91.8 a billable code?

Yes. L91.8 (Other hypertrophic disorders of the skin) is billable and valid in the 2027 ICD-10-CM code set, effective October 1, 2026. Its parent category, L91, isn’t billable.

What is the ICD-10 code for acrochordon?

Acrochordon is the medical term for a skin tag, and it codes to L91.8. So does a fibroepithelial polyp of the skin, unless pathology confirms a different diagnosis.

What is the CPT code for skin tag removal by cryotherapy?

CPT 11200 for up to 15 tags, plus 11201 for each additional 10. Cryotherapy has no separate skin tag code. CPT 17110 excludes skin tags, so don’t use it.

What is the ICD-10 code for an anal skin tag?

K64.4 (Residual hemorrhoidal skin tags) covers anal and perianal skin tags. Excision of an anal tag is billed with CPT 46220 for one tag or 46230 for multiple tags, not 11200.

Does Medicare cover skin tag removal?

Only when it is medically necessary, for example when the tag bleeds, itches, is inflamed, gets repeatedly irritated, or blocks vision. Cosmetic removal is excluded. Use the GY modifier, or GA with a signed ABN when necessity is uncertain.