Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	May 14, 2020
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2020
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Trading Symbol	NOVN
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, $0.0001 par value
Security Exchange Name	NASDAQ
Entity Registrant Name	NOVAN, INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0001467154
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	true
Entity Emerging Growth Company	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Ex Transition Period	true
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		75,471,388