Skin sensitivity is not uncommon as one ages – this is a bit of an anomaly, since at a sensory level skin sensitivity may decline with age. So not only do ageing folk sometimes experience a diminished sense of touch, i.e. feel less, we also tend to become hypersensitive to external stimuli (chemicals in your case), or other environmental aggressors. In addition, the skin starts to thin as the epidermal barrier decreases, due to the ageing process and hormonal changes.