Experts don’t know the exact cause of eczema, but it appears to develop when the protective layer of the skin changes. This layer is known as the skin barrier. Changes in the skin barrier may cause your child’s skin to become dry, damaged, and inflamed. A combination of factors may contribute to changes in the skin barrier, including: genetic mutations environment factors changes in the immune system Children are more likely to develop eczema if other family members have the condition. Kids with eczema also have an increased risk of certain conditions, such as: asthma hay fever food allergies Researchers are continuing to study the potential causes of eczema and its relationship to allergic diseases.