If you’re like us, you have a gunky body scrub sitting in the shower that hasn’t been uncapped in a long time. (We won’t ask how long if you don’t!) Between cleansing, conditioning and shaving, reaching for that jar can feel like an unnecessary indulgence when you’re just trying to get in and out and done.But you should reconsider if you want a young-looking body, urges a popular Hollywood dermatologist who says that buffing goes beyond just exfoliation. “To put the brakes on signs of aging all over your body, polishing is essential,” says Harold Lancer, M.D., author of “Younger: The Breakthrough Anti-Aging Method for Radiant Skin.”In fact, those body scrubs may keep your body matching your face as you age. And as we know from those unforgiving celebrity shots that compare mottled hands and chests to facial complexions, there’s no bigger age giveaway than a wrinkly body that doesn’t match a glowing face.“When you exfoliate your body, you stimulate your skin to act young by tapping into its innate healing power,” says Dr. Lancer. Buffing boosts cell renewal and promotes collagen and elastic production in similar fashion to exfoliation of your face, he says.While Dr. Lancer advises patients do a full body scrub with every shower, we know that’s not realistic for everyone. Fortunately, a weekly habit could reap visible benefits too, says Joshua Zeichner, M.D., Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research at New York’s Mount Sinai Medical Center.“It takes a week or so for baby skin cells to make its way up to the top of the skin from the bottom layer, and the cells need to build up enough to give skin a dull appearance, so in my opinion, scrubbing every day is not necessary, and I recommend once to twice a week,” says Dr. Zeichner.Whether you get down weekly or more, there’s a most effective way to do it. Here’s Dr. Lancer’s method:Apply exfoliator to dry skin with dry hands. Then wet your hands, and starting from feet and working your way up one body part at a time, massage the scrub in with circular motions. Spend about a minute on each leg and each arm to fully slough off dead cells, dirt and excess oil. “Avoid washcloths and bathing mitts, because bacteria will grow in them if you don’t launder with each use,” warns Dr. Lancer.Pay special attention to aging zones. Rough areas that are susceptible to premature aging include the hands, elbows, backs of thighs, knees, heels and toes. And wherever there is roughness, scaling, sun damage or dimples, take a moment to give it extra polishing care.Rinse, cleanse, pat dry and nourish. When you’re done cleansing and drying, quickly applying moisturizer or body oil will help delay aging by improving texture and tone. Again, add extra hydration to wrinkle zones like the elbows, heels and knees.Now for the fun part! There are lots of yummy scrubs and healing creams to try. Check out our gallery of picks that will help keep your body looking and feeling ageless.