Unspecified disturbances of skin sensation

This code represents a general category for abnormal or altered sensations of the skin when the specific type of disturbance (e.g., anesthesia, paresthesia, hyperesthesia) is not documented. It indicates a sensory deficit or alteration without further clinical detail.

Use this code when the medical record documents a patient experiencing altered skin sensation, but the provider has not specified the exact nature of the disturbance. This is appropriate when documentation states "skin sensation disturbance" or "abnormal skin sensation" without further elaboration.

• Avoid using this code if more specific documentation is available (e.g., R20.0 for anesthesia, R20.2 for paresthesia).
• Query the provider for clarification if a more specific diagnosis is suspected but not documented.
• This code should generally be a last resort when no other specific R20.x code can be assigned.