Congenital alopecia

This code describes the congenital absence of hair, meaning an individual is born without hair or with significantly sparse hair due to a developmental anomaly. It can affect the entire scalp or be localized to specific areas, and may or may not be associated with other congenital conditions.

Use this code for patients diagnosed with hair loss present at birth, confirmed by clinical examination. Documentation should clearly state "congenital alopecia" or describe the absence of hair since birth, distinguishing it from acquired forms of alopecia.

• Differentiate from acquired alopecia (e.g., alopecia areata, androgenic alopecia), which are coded elsewhere.
• If the congenital alopecia is part of a syndrome, code the underlying syndrome first, if known and documented.
• Ensure documentation specifies "congenital" to support the use of this code.