[Saph]

Does Michael Lohan have a new friend?



45-year-old Tanning Mom has entered rehab for alcohol abuse, TMZ has learned.

Sources close to Patricia Krentcil -- who famously faced child endangerment charges last year after allegedly putting her 5-year-old in a tanning booth -- tell us she entered Lukens Institute in Palm Beach Thursday night.

We're told Tanning Mom realized she had hit rock bottom after she was placed in detox for 30 hours at an airport in Minneapolis last week ... for being way too drunk to fly.

Of course, TM has had a few public drunken incidents -- last August she was a wasted, stumbling, panty-flashing mess at a gay nightclub in NYC. 'Memba that? So it's not a huge surprise.

Spoiler:

As for why she ended up at Lukens -- a rehab center endorsed by Michael Lohan -- we're told TM reached out to Michael about treatment because the two went to high school together ... and she heard Michael mention Lukens' unique treatment and success in a recent interview.

Krentcil will remain in treatment for 30 days.

Spoiler: