My Hotpoint clothes dryer gets really hot to the touch on the back of the appliance. This happens while in use, then the dryer will shut off on it's own & cool down. It also happens when not in use but does not shut down so I have to keep it unplugged. Anyone have any advice as to how I can fix this?

Something sounds like it's shorted. It sounds like the heating element (electric dryer?) is powered all of the time.

I was going to suggest that you may have link plugging the exhaust, but if it's getting hot while not in use, it sounds more like the heating element is receiving power all of the time. I'd suspect a bad relay or switch but without a wiring diagram, I can't begin to guess anything beyond that.