Have you ever thought that exfoliating would improve your skin, but instead it became more sensitive?

My skin texture looked rough, so I worked hard on exfoliating for a while.
I felt my skin become smooth immediately after using it, so I wondered if this was the answer.

But the problem is that as I do it often, I feel like my skin is getting more and more sensitive.

At first, my makeup seemed to apply well, but at some point, my face started feeling tight and my cheeks turned slightly red after washing it.
There were also days when it stung when I applied skincare products.

From then on, I wondered if the actions I took to improve my skin texture had actually damaged my skin barrier.
While having smooth skin is important, I think being in a comfortable state is even more important.

Lately, I have completely stopped exfoliating and am focusing solely on moisturizing. It felt stifling at first, but as time passed, my skin actually feels less irritated.

However, I am not completely satisfied with my skin texture yet, so I am considering whether I should exfoliate again.

How often do you all exfoliate?
I want to do it for my skin texture, but I'm scared it might make my skin sensitive. Does anyone understand this ambiguous feeling?