The Author

Dr. Verallo-Rowell’s writing successes began in the 1960s, as a dermatology resident at the Cleveland Clinic (link to Cleveland Clinic journal feature on Dr. Verallo) in Ohio. One of Dr. Verallo-Rowell’s very first articles won first prize in the 1967 U.S. national manuscript contest of the Cutis Dermatology Journal. Through the years the subjects of her research have been diverse: cosmetics, skin care, psoriasis, photomedicine, dermatopathology, dermatologic surgery, and medical ethics.

She is the author of over 150 articles in dermatology journals, and in the proceedings of dermatology meetings. Her first book, Skin in the Tropics: Sunscreens and Hyperpigmentations (link to webpage selling book), is now considered a "classic" on this subject. Published by Anvil Press, in 2002, it won the Annual Publishing Industries’ Golden (Gintong Alay) Award for “comprehensiveness in coverage of topic”.

In 2002, at the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Philippine Dermatological Society, she was judged by her peers as their "Top Philippine Dermatologist”. This multifaceted award includes the recognition of that unique trait common to great clinicians and to Dr. Verallo-Rowell: the ability to explain complex subjects with simplicity and clarity.

Thus, to medical and non-medical audiences she is warm, witty, logical, and easy to understand. In Rx: Coconuts! (The Perfect Health Nut), she writes just like she talks: simple and clear. Using analogies to common things, she first presents some basic facts about fats in our diet, and compares these with the coconut. With this new knowledge, you begin to understand why and how coconuts can bring about a head-to-toe, cell-to-surface health and beauty make-over.

At the end of the book, you look forward to accepting her excitingly new and varied proposals, the Rx: Coconuts Lifestyle prescriptions, which she herself uses. At 66, after years of following this lifestyle, she looks younger than her years, is healthy, lean, active in daily sports, and a perfect model for the Rx: Coconuts! Lifestyles she prescribes and follows.

Dr. Verallo-Rowell has impressive credentials. She is the Chairwoman of the Department of Dermatology at Makati Medical Center, the most esteemed medical facility in the Philippines. Across Southeast Asia, she is a frequent lecturer at the Regional Conferences of Dermatology, a council member of the Asian Dermatological Association, and an active leader of the Asian Regional Psoriasis Forum. To top it all, she continues to be the R&D Head of a successful state-of-the-science cosmetic and skin care company that she founded in 1979.



Rx: Coconuts! (The Perfect Health Nut)

“Expounds on the clinical usefulness of our discovery on monoglycerides… A must read for anyone concerned with their health and the way they look… I wish I could write half as well.” — Jon Kabara, B.S., M.S., Chicago, IL

“An enlightening read on coconut oil’s efficacy for various skin problems, infections and precancerous lesions… Ideal for the dermatologist and the average person interested in skin care, weight control and all aspects of their health” — Conrado S. Dayrit, M.D., FACC, Fellow, American College of Cardiologists, FPCP, FPCC

“..once I started, I could not put it down!!!” — Adolf Oriña, Retired U.S. MD, Baguio, Philippines

more testimonials


Dermatological Effects of Topical and Oral VCO and its Monoglyceride Derivative by Vermén M. Verallo-Rowell, MD, FABD, FABDP, FPDS read more

Crazy For Coconut Oil by Lori Corbin, ABC7 read more

Coconut Oil is Cholesterol Free by Ernesto M. Ordoñez, Philippine Daily Inquirer read more

White Oil that Heals Published on page A12 of the September 17, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer read more

Copyright 2009. Dra. Vermén M. Verallo-Rowell. All rights reserved.