About Nava MD | How Does the Process Work? | Customized Treatments | Treatments and Ingredients | Do Treatments Work? | Pros and Cons
We can tell a lot about our health by looking at our skin.
Sometimes, dry, itchy, and reddening skin can clue us in to nutritional deficiencies. Changes in skin pigmentation or darkening spots are often a sign of excess sun exposure. Excessive acne may be caused by poor diet, stress, or even toxins.
The point is, skincare cannot be overlooked. Sure, there are plenty of skincare products that should be part of the daily routine — cleansers, moisturizers, exfoliates — the list could go on. But, are they made for you in mind?
Personalized skincare goes beyond the one-size-fits-all approach. Personalized means it is made just for you, your skin, and your needs.
Nava MD understands the importance of personalized skincare. This telehealth company seeks to connect customers with licensed dermatologists, helping them get their skin conditions diagnosed and treated with personalized, prescription skincare solutions.
But, the most important question remains: as great of an idea as this is, does their personalized skincare approach actually work?
We’ve done the work so you don’t have to — here’s what we found.
About Nava MD
Nava MD is fairly new to the telehealth world as it launched in the first quarter of 2021. Though the company itself is new, the expertise behind it is not. Nava MD relies on experienced medical advisors and licensed clinicians.
In brief, Nava MD seeks to connect customers with licensed dermatologists who are trained to diagnose and treat various skin conditions. They provide both prescription and non-prescription treatments for acne, rosacea, hyperpigmentation, anti-aging, and melasma.
We’ve discovered that Nava MD is all about providing personalized skincare solutions. After a consultation and review, their licensed clinicians create a personalized treatment plan and customize compound formulas to meet your specific skincare needs.
How Does the Process Work?
The process to get started with Nava MD was fairly simple for us — it involved three main steps, first and foremost being the initial consultation and evaluation process.
Free Consultation
Like most telehealth companies, consultation is the first step in the process. During this initial process, we were asked to fill out a comprehensive questionnaire. Also, we had to provide photos for the clinicians to be able to review.
First, we were asked about our skin concerns and the treatment we were seeking. Options included acne, hyperpigmentation, anti-aging, melasma, and rosacea. We decided to go with acne as our main skin concern for this trial run.
We were then redirected to another page to complete the consultation — we had to select our state and consent to telehealth terms and privacy policies. An email address had to be provided as well to begin the questionnaire, and they later also asked us for a phone number, too.
From start to finish, the whole process took about 10 minutes, and consisted of 21 questions.
Personalized Prescription Treatments for Women's Skincare.Designed by dermatologists, customized for you.
No matter what personalized skin treatment we’ve formulated for you, Nava MD wants to help you be as successful as possible.
- Free Rush Shipping
- Free Physician Consultation
- Treatments for: Anti-Aging, Acne, Wrinkles, Rosacea
Here is an example of a question we were asked: What goals can we help with?
Options included fighting breakouts, treating clogged pores, fading dark spots, improving skin texture, and boosting firmness. We had the option to select more than one.
We were also asked about medical history — simple stuff like past surgeries, current medications, allergies, and family history. Questions also included symptoms, onset, and severity (i.e. how bad the acne is, etc.).
Once completed, results are analyzed and an initial treatment plan will be recommended. We were offered a free physician consultation, and priority shipping prices were waived for our first order.
One thing we weren’t ecstatic about: After the initial online questionnaire, no details are given on what specific products are included in the personalized treatment plan — all they really gave us was the price.
Also, the consultation with the clinician takes place after payment is processed. Of course, more details are given during physician consultation, but it just didn’t sit right that they took a payment before we got to see someone.
Customized Treatment
You are technically prescribed a customized treatment after the initial online consultation. However, the actual personalized treatment plan — with non-prescribed or prescribed ingredients — is still up to the discretion of the licensed clinicians.
Nava MD clinicians will review your questionnaire and prescribe a custom treatment plan if approved, based on your needs.
Receiving Your Personalized Treatment
Once you agree to treatment, your order is placed and your prescription will be filled with Nava MD’s U.S. pharmacy partner — Carefirst Specialty Pharmacy. The good news is, Carefirst is nationally accredited by the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board (PCAB) and is a NABP verified pharmacy website — in other words, relax, they’re legit.
How long will orders take to receive?
Nava MD orders ship free to your door within 2 business days, according to their website.
What states do Nava MD serve?
Currently, Nava MD serves 35 states.
States not included in service include: Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, Vermont, and West Virginia.
Nava MD Treatments and Ingredients
Nava MD seeks to provide personalized skincare solutions for various skin conditions. Let’s look at each briefly, followed by some of the prescription ingredients.
Acne and Personalized Treatment
One of the most common reasons people seek personalized skincare treatment is to fight back against the effects of acne. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, acne is the most common skin condition in the U.S., and it affects more than 50 million annually.
One of the most common causes of acne is clogged hair follicles. These follicles become clogged due to oils and dead skin. However, there are many forms of acne with many causes. They can range from simple blemishes and blackheads to papules and nodules, caused by anything from overactive oil production to hormones to unlucky genetics.
Acne also varies in severity, from mild to severe. Severe acne can lead to permanent scarring of the skin. Acne can have hormonal, bacterial, inflammatory, or dietary causes.
Treatments for Acne
Although there are some over-the-counter solutions to acne treatment, Nava MD relies on three main prescription-strength ingredients for their personalized acne treatment: Tretinoin, clindamycin, and niacinamide.
Tretinoin, a synthetic form of Vitamin A, is a clinically proven ingredient used to fight the effects of acne by promoting healthy cell replacement. Clindamycin is an antibacterial agent used to arrest the growth of bacteria on the skin. Niacinamide works to reduce the inflammatory effects of acne.
Hyperpigmentation and Personalized Treatment
Hyperpigmentation is another skin concern for many people. In short, hyperpigmentation can refer to skin that appears darker in some spots. It’s sometimes referred to as sunspots or age spots. Typically, this is a result of sun damage or other environmental factors. Signs of hyperpigmentation can include dark spots, roughness, and uneven skin tone.
Hyperpigmentation Treatments
Nava MD relies on pigment blocking agents in their hyperpigmentation formulas: Azelaic acid and tranexamic acid. The former is an antioxidant compound that helps improve skin tone and texture, the latter is an amino acid derivative that helps inhibit pigment cell production.
Melasma and Personalized Treatment
Melasma is a skin condition that is usually characterized by brownish-gray patches or freckle-like spots on the skin; it is a form of hyperpigmentation. Some other signs can include discoloration and uneven skin tone. It often presents during pregnancy, but it can occur as a result of hormones, UV exposure, or simply genetics.
Melasma Treatments
For melasma, Nava MD utilizes hydroquinone, a skin-lightening agent, and kojic acid, which helps inhibit melanin production.
Personalized Prescription Treatments for Women's Skincare.Designed by dermatologists, customized for you.
No matter what personalized skin treatment we’ve formulated for you, Nava MD wants to help you be as successful as possible.
- Free Rush Shipping
- Free Physician Consultation
- Treatments for: Anti-Aging, Acne, Wrinkles, Rosacea
Rosacea and Personalized Treatment
Rosacea is another common skin condition that causes a red, slightly splotchy skin tone and visible blood vessels on the face. It can also lead to swollen red bumps or pimples on the skin. Many things can trigger a rosacea flare-up — sunlight, heat, stress, and even diet.
Rosacea Treatments
Nava MD uses three main ingredients to fight the effects of rosacea: Ketotifen, niacinamide, and metronidazole. As an antihistamine, ketotifen helps reduce redness. Niacinamide, as a derivative of vitamin B3, has anti-inflammatory properties. Metronidazole acts as a topical antibiotic, helping to reduce redness.
Anti-Aging and Personalized Treatment
Many are familiar with the effects that aging has on the skin; e.g. wrinkles, sagging, dullness, etc. Many times, these effects are caused by photoaging (sun damage) and a reduction in collagen production as we age.
Anti-Aging Treatments
Nava MD’s anti-aging products rely on two main ingredients: Tretinoin and niacinamide, which we discussed above.
Do the Treatments Actually Work?
Many of the ingredients found in Nava MD’s personalized treatments are clinically proven.
Tretinoin is a common ingredient used in both acne and anti-aging treatments. Numerous studies have shown the effectiveness of topical tretinoin in:
- Helping to reduce acne-associated inflammation
- Helping to prevent the clogging of follicles
- Helping to increase the rate of healthy skin cell turnover
Niacinamide is also a clinically proven topical ingredient for acne and anti-aging treatment, helping to reduce redness and regulate skin oils. It also has strong antioxidant effects, which are important for fighting against oxidative stress.
So, clinical lingo aside — yes, the treatments actually work. All of the ingredients Nava MD uses have been proven to work in the lab and in the skincare community.
What Are Customers Saying About Nava MD?
As great as an ingredient’s lab results are, the effectiveness of treatment still ultimately depends on the individual.
Here are a few customer reviews that speak to their experience with Nava MD’s personalized treatment:
Tretinoin helped me tremendously. First, the tone of my skin improved, then smaller and smaller break outs. Now after 6 months of bi-daily use NO ACNE!!!! Whohoo!
— Melissa, 5/5 stars on reviews.io
Two weeks of morning and night application, followed by another two weeks of once a day, it cleared my spot completely. The spots have lightened by one-third.
— Sanam, 5/5 stars on review.io
Have been diagnosed with Rosacea. All I can say is, I am amazed at the results topically applied Metronidazole has given me. Only one regret, why didn’t I do it sooner?
— Brooke, 5/5 stars on reviews.io
Nava MD Pros and Cons
After a careful review, it is time we summarize what we think are Nava MD’s main benefits, and some of their potential drawbacks.
Nava MD Pros
Telehealth convenience. The very first benefit that customers will find with Nava MD is convenience. This is true for most telehealth companies. Making appointments and going to a physician’s office simply isn’t necessary. The consultation, the personalized treatment plan, and the prescription filing is all done virtually. In our opinion, that is a huge plus!
Managing your services is easy too. Nava MD stays in touch. You can access your account from anywhere — mobile, desktop, and even tablet. From there, you can request refills and track your orders. Plus, Nava MD’s professionals will continue to monitor and manage your treatment, giving you ongoing support. You can also stay up to date on continuing skincare treatment and tips with their blog — we love a good blog.
Nava MD Cons
Not available in all states. One drawback we found is the fact that Nava MD is not available in all 50 states. Of course, that may change since they are still relatively new — fingers crossed!
Pricing and costs takes some digging to actually find. Evaluating Nava MD’s pricing structure is a little difficult. The website itself doesn’t feature a price catalog or descriptions of pricing. Really, the only way to get to the pricing is after filling out the questionnaire and submitting your contact information — not everyone has the patience for this, we probably wouldn’t have stuck around if we weren’t doing this review. Of course, this is something that can be improved, but most customers expect to see pricing upfront, especially when Nava MD isn’t the only custom skincare company out there.
Conclusion
Nava MD certainly has a lot to offer in regard to telehealth skincare solutions. But, does Nava MD’s personalized skincare actually work?
Well, based on their many clinically proven ingredients — not to mention their customer reviews — we certainly believe they do.
Of course, the wonderful thing about Nava MD is being able to get access to licensed skincare professionals and expertise without leaving your house.
At the end of the day, the effectiveness of treatment plans depends on the individual. However, we believe these personalized treatment plans could be the ticket to healthier skin for skin that really needs a little extra TLC.
Sources:
CareFirst Specialty Pharmacy: Custom Compounded Medications
NABP | National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
Skin conditions by the numbers | American Academy of Dermatology
Tretinoin: A Review of Its Anti-inflammatory Properties in the Treatment of Acne
Niacinamide: A B Vitamin that Improves Aging Facial Skin Appearanc
Bridget Reed is a Tampa-based content development manager, writer, and editor at GR0; specializing in content related to varying fields including medicine, health, and small businesses. Bridget went to St. Petersburg College and majored in Management and Organizational Leadership.
Camille is an Editorial Content Manager within the Content Department at GR0. In addition to reviewing content to ensure it meets FDA regulatory compliance guidelines, Camille works to manage content pipelines along with optimizing articles for maximum ranking and outreach potential, working with one of the top digital marketing teams in the world to deliver tangible online presence. Aside from that, Camille has always been rooted in medicine and clinical research throughout her entire academic career, with her most recent academic achievement having graduated Summa Cum Laude at the M.S. Pharmacology program at The Ohio State University.
