Highly effective topical treatments, such as Epiduo Forte, are designed to aggressively prevent the formation of new active lesions—which is the most important step in preventing future deep, pitted scars. However, topicals cannot physically fill in existing pitted scars. What they can do is significantly accelerate skin cell turnover. The retinoid component of the medication drastically helps fade post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (the flat dark brown or red marks left behind by old pimples), leading to a much more even, radiant skin tone over time.