System and method for alerting the occurrence of wetness on a skin area under a cover layer, comprising detection means for detecting the occurrence of wetness on the skin area under the cover layer, exposure means for exposing at least part of the skin area to a temperature having a course which mainly corresponds to the temperature course which would have occurred in the absence of said cover layer, and actuation means for actuating said exposure means under control of said detection means. The exposure means may comprise an electricity source, electricity/temperature conversion means, and control means for controlling the electrical current or voltage in accordance with a predetermined curve which results in an output temperature of the electricity/temperature conversion means which mainly corresponds to the temperature course which would have occurred in the absence of said cover layer. The electricity/temperature conversion means may comprise one or more Peltier elements.