You can compensate by not putting point into health, this makes an very lethal playstyle where single hits to kill are common, both ways )
And yes use clothing.

If you have lots of health and good armor you are impossible to kill if you use potions.
Your own damage only reduces the number of potions you need during the fight.

There are mods out there that can solve your problem. Check the Steam Workshop.

It's more of knowing to utilize the skills when necesarry, I play a stealth illusionist and I get 2 shotted by bears, but when I play my cards right there still isn't one enemy that I have had to reload yet, it's best not to bring a companion, as getting the sneak attack critical is difficult. Dragons on the other hand could prove difficult, my ranged dps is destruction and enchanting bows. I Almost ALWAYS use Marked for Death.

I play on Master and this is how I kill a group of high powered enemies, casters/warriors. I am an illusionist, I cast frenzy in the group, they start attacking ea other. I then spam chain lighting until drained from a distance, once the enemies are finished attacking each other the one that is left is either very weak so I can finish him with a few lightning bolts from afar or if he survived with a decent amount of health then I open up with a sneak attack critical, 30Times damage is my friend.

I don't know about Expert/Master, but you can do thousands of damage without explots.

Simple with max Daedric daggers at 85 or so damage, imbued with around 70% better smithing (20% bracers, 50% potion), otherwise they're around 75 damage.
Double Backstab damage through certain pieces of equipment. (Mostly Dark Brotherhood stuff)

85x30=2550
75x30=2250

I can one-shot most enemies on Apprentice/Adept.