Number of securities into which the class of warrant or right may be converted. For example, but not limited to, 500,000 warrants may be converted into 1,000,000 shares.

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Related Party Transactions (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands			3 Months Ended
	Mar. 26, 2020	Mar. 03, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Common stock, number of shares held (in shares)			72,019,062		26,734,800
Common stock issued during period (in shares)	10,550,000	14,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock and pre-funded warrants, net of underwriting fees and commissions			$ 12,577	$ 0
Board Members
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Common stock, number of shares held (in shares)			1,104,776		1,002,776
Reedy Creek Investments LLC
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Warrants owned (in shares)			3,900,000
Reedy Creek Investments LLC \| Novan, Inc.
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Beneficial ownership percentage			5.00%
Sabby
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Common stock issued during period (in shares)	6,200,000
Joseph Moglia
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Common stock issued during period (in shares)	1,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock and pre-funded warrants, net of underwriting fees and commissions	$ 430
Pre Funded Warrant
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Warrants issued (in shares)	8,054,652	4,333,334
Pre Funded Warrant \| Sabby
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Warrants issued (in shares)	2,602,326
Common Stock
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Common stock, number of shares held (in shares)			72,019,062	26,069,734	26,734,800	26,056,735
Common stock issued during period (in shares)		1,498,602
Common Stock \| Pre Funded Warrant \| Sabby
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Proceeds from issuance of common stock and pre-funded warrants, net of underwriting fees and commissions	$ 3,800