My skin is red on my face, neck, elbows, and buttocks. the red areas burn. this only happens periodically. what could cause this?

Worth a doc visit: Having parts of your body turn red and burn suggests a problem that should be explored. It can be due to blood vessels dilating, or being irritated. Several conditions have skin flushing as a sign, and burning as a symptom, such as lupus, vasculitis, myositis (irritation of muscles), infection etc. Some medications can cause flushing such as niacin, and alcohol can do it as well. Best to be seen.