9 Fall Skin Care Rules Dermatologists Want You to Follow

“Over-exfoliation exposes skin, weakens skin-barrier function and, in some cases, triggers inflammation,” Engelman says.  If the barrier function is damaged, the skin becomes vulnerable to infection from microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungus, and leads to sensitivity and irritation. And even if the barrier function isn’t visibly damaged, she says that the skin may experience a low amount of inflammation (called chronic inflammation), which prematurely ages skin over time.

It's always wise to use a gentle exfoliant, like Meow Meow Tweet Face Exfoliant, $20, which uses five simple ingredients to gently lift dead skin cells and impurities from your face.