Final answer:
Therapeutic interventions for pruritus include moisturizing creams, antihistamines, and anti-inflammatory drugs, with corticosteroid creams like hydrocortisone being commonly used to control inflammation and itching by reducing histamine production. However, they typically address only the symptoms, not the underlying cause.
Step-by-step explanation:
The therapeutic interventions for controlling pruritus, which is a medical term for itching, can vary depending on the underlying cause but often include the use of moisturizing creams, antihistamines, anti-inflammatory drugs, and analgesics. One common type of moisturizing cream used to alleviate symptoms such as pruritus and inflammation is a corticosteroid cream. The cream prescribed to Penny was a topical corticosteroid cream containing hydrocortisone, which is effective at reducing inflammation and temporarily relieving minor skin irritations and rashes. Hydrocortisone works by reducing the secretion of histamine, which diminishes the body's inflammatory response, thereby managing the symptoms. However, it is worth noting that corticosteroid creams generally treat the symptoms rather than the root cause of most skin conditions.In the case of type IV hypersensitivities, treatment may also include eliminating exposure to the antigen that triggers the reaction. The physical and chemical properties that help these substances alleviate itching and inflammation include their ability to suppress the immune system response by reducing the local production of histamine in the skin, and their moisturizing properties, which can soothe and protect the skin barrier.