Dina Lohan: It's Hard Under A Microscope

Actress Lindsay Lohan checked into an exclusive Southern California addiction rehabilitation facility this week.

Just last month the 20-year-old star admitted attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Now, Lohan says she's made a decision to take care of her health.

Lindsay's mother, Dina Lohan, spoke exclusively to "Entertainment Tonight" about her daughter's troubles, and she blames the tabloids for being relentless in pursuing the young actress.

"Lindsay's under a microscope," she says. "The media puts this ridiculousness out there."

It's a big concern for her mother.

"You know, the positive thing is someone is trying to help themselves, and I'll leave it at that," Lohan tells "ET." "There are helicopters outside our apartment. I mean, this child can't even go to Starbucks without someone saying 'Oh, her hair looks ...' "

The actress checked herself into the exclusive "Wonderland Center" for addiction treatment this week. There were reports of her partying until 6 in the morning at the Beverly Hilton hotel after the Golden Globes.

"You know, I'm her mother, I'm not her keeper," her mom says. "I'm 40-ish, and it hurts me and Lindsay's like 'Mommy look what they wrote about me. Are you kidding?' "

Dina Lohan says she won't accept the blame for her daughter's pain. She just wants the media to back off.

"You saw 'Mean Girls,' I'm sure," Lohan says. "It's almost 'Mean Girls' tabloid."

Lindsay Lohan had a simple operation a few weeks ago and it triggered an explosion of accusations in the press.

"She had her appendix out, that was it," her mom says. "No liver, no ... They said she had an abortion, unfortunately… some radio station. But people are gonna go 'Is it true? Is it not true?' "

Lohan's mother says what her daughter needs most now is a little breathing room.

"Freedom of speech is one thing. Defamation of character is quite another," Dina Lohan says. "I just pray the tabloids give us our space and leave us alone."

And if the tabloids continue their love affair with the young star, Lohan's mother fears there will be no rest for Lindsay.

"Jessica Simpson and her husband, I think, you know the tabloids broke up their marriage," she says. "If somebody messes up, you are all screw-ups."