Try using distilled water. That’s is water with all minerals removed. It’s available at grocery stores for like $0.60 a gallon. I’m not familiar with your machine. But I researched the DIY set-up explained on this site. They recommend a 12 volt 7 amp DC (constant direct current)lantern battery. What I found through research is that a constant current of 0.5 amps to 2.0 amps is ideal for iontophoresis treatment and will minimize burn. The DIY set up draws about 1.16 amps in a 10 minute treatment session (7 amps per hour/6 X 10 minute segments). So try lowering the amp setting on your machine until it is tolerable. If you must use a really low amp setting then you should extend your treatment session accordingly. Perhaps your machine guide explains this? The real key is the electrical resistance of your set up; how freely the current flows through it. The value of Your expensive machine is that it should manage this effectively. But it just may be that your skin has a lower than average resistance allowing current to flow easier. Or as you suspect your water may just conduct electricity better, so the distilled water may lower this. Good luck.