Is There A Shortage of Doctors?

I live in Los Angeles and I am not sure about all categories of doctors but I am wondering if there is a shortage of dermatologists. Recently I was traveling and I felt a large bump on the top of my head. I had it for several weeks but someone noticed it was really red and it was itching a lot. I was concerned so I called quite a few dermatologists in Los Angeles so that I could have an appointment when I came back. Each doctor I called said they could get an appointment for me in about 2 months. Even the physician’s assistants were busy except for one. I called doctors mostly that I had seen previously so I was not a new patient in every case.

I thought I might have cancer so obviously, I wanted to see someone right away. I told the office staff too and they told me in a very business-like fashion that there were NO APPOINTMENTS unless there was a cancellation. I decided to go to urgent care while I was traveling. I was diagnosed with cellulitis and given antibiotics. I did finally find a doctor in Los Angeles, probably because all the reviews were terrible.

When I got back to L.A., I saw the one dermatologist who was free and she said I had a birthmark on my head. She said I was misdiagnosed and to stop the antibiotics immediately. So is that the health care we have and are there very few dermatologists in L.A. who are free? I have excellent insurance, it is a PPO. Or maybe it is not lucrative to see patients for silly things like a birthmark? On all the websites I visited, the main focus was cosmetic dermatology and how you could be beautiful with Botox, lasers, peels, injections, fat reduction, and special lotion only offered by the office. I guess beauty is more lucrative, especially since it is cash only (or credit card) but not paid for by insurance.