Final answer:
The main focus in controlling pruritus is to moisturize the skin and reduce inflammation, often with a cream containing hydrocortisone to alleviate itching.
Step-by-step explanation:
The priority in controlling pruritus (itching) is to hydrate the skin and reduce inflammation. For a person like Penny who is suffering from an allergic eczema, the doctor prescribed a moisturizing cream that contained hydrocortisone, a topical corticosteroid. This cream helps alleviate itching and inflammation due to its ability to reduce the secretion of histamine, which is responsible for the body's inflammatory response. However, it's important to note that a corticosteroid cream such as this is used to treat the symptoms rather than the underlying cause of the rash.