eli5 Why does the handwash/soap only kill the microorganisms but not our own skin cells?

Question

I read how soap kills the microorganisms like bacteria by tearing apart their cell membranes.

Does that affect our skin cells also, does the top most layer of our skin also dies and we are just too big on cellular scale that we don’t feel anything?

P.S. i know millions of cells die in our body everyday so it doesn’t matter still just curious does soap also kill outer most skin cells?

In: 64

Answer 1

I think others already answered your question, I just want to note that there are many bacteria that can easily survive being exposed to soap. Mainly Gram-negative bacteria. These have 2 membranes.

It’s mostly the act of rubbing and rinsing that makes them go away, not the soap itself.