Objective To systematically review the association between migraine and rosacea. Background Migraine is a complex disorder with episodes of headache, nausea, photo- and phonophobia. Rosacea is an inflammatory skin condition with flushing, erythema, telangiectasia, papules, and pustules. Both are chronic disorders with exacerbations of symptoms almost exclusively in areas innervated by the trigeminal nerve. Previous studies found an association between these disorders. We review these findings, provide a meta-analysis, and discuss possible pathophysiological commonalities. Methods A search through PubMed and EMBASE was undertaken for studies investigating the association between all forms of migraine and rosacea published until November 2016, and meta-analysis of eligible studies. Results Nine studies on eight populations were identified. Studies differed in methodology and diagnostic process, but all investigated co-occurrence of migraine and rosacea. Four studies were eligible for meta-analysis, resulting in a pooled odds ratio of 1.96 (95% confidence interval 1.41-2.72) for migraine in a rosacea population compared to a non-rosacea population. Conclusion Our meta-analysis confirmed an association in occurrence of migraine and rosacea. Future studies should specifically investigate possible shared pathophysiological mechanisms between the two disorders.

ABSTRACT. All women (n = 11809) aged 44–53 years from a representative district of Denmark were asked by questionnaire about their date of birth, date of latest menstrual bleeding, possible gynaecological operations, smoking habits, and use of medications. A total of 9411 (80%) questionnaires were returned. After exclusions because of incomplete information (n = 275), possible surgical menopause (n = 1270), and treatment with gonadal hormones (n = 2 221), 5 645 women remained suitable for the study. The reproducibility of the information given by these women was excellent as judged by personal interviews of 315 participants. The study population was divided into five 2‐year age groups, and the proportion of postmenopausal women among non‐smokers and heavy smokers was calculated. Differences in respect to the menopausal status were not observable in the oldest and the youngest two age groups comprising just a few per cent of postmenopausal women. However, heavy smokers in the other two age groups had passed the menopause earlier than the non‐smokers (p<0.001). This finding suggests cigarette smoking as a promotor of the menopause.