Abstract Background: Fungal skin infections such as superficial tinea and pityriasis versicolor are very common and affect people all over the world. Recent research suggests that certain antimicrobial peptides can also play a role in the body's natural defense against fungal infection. Aim of Study: The aim of this research is to look at the tissue expression of Cathelicidin mRNA in tinea versicolor and tinea circinata skin lesions to learn more about its function in fungal infection pathogenesis. Patients and Methods: Twenty patients with tinea versi-color, twenty with tinea circinata, and twenty controls partic-ipated in this case-control study. A punch skin biopsy was obtained from the patient's lesional and non-lesional skin, as well as the control's normal skin, for real time PCR (RT-PCR) gene expression of cathelicidin mRNA. Results: Cathelicidin was upregulated in lesional areas of tinea versicolor and tinea circinata in comparison to non lesional areas of tinea versicolor, tinea circinata and control. These results reached a statistical significance for mRNA cathelicidin in both diseases (p-value <0.001). Conclusion: The results back up the theory that antimi-crobial peptides like Cathelicidin can help defend the skin from dermatophytes and M.furfur.